Je tu il elle
An experimental queer film about silence, desire, and the gaze—Chantal Akerman’s debut feature breaks narrative boundaries with an intimate touch.
Please note the film does not have English dialogue or subtitles!
A room, where a woman moves the furniture around and eats sugar straight from the bag. A road, on which a stranger picks her up. A door, that opens to a past love. Chantal Akerman’s experimental queer film Je tu il elle (1974) is split in three parts, and is a portrayal of silence, the body, and longing that can’t be put into words.
The Belgian director’s unique cinematic language is compelling in its simplicity: long static shots, bodily expression and the controlled stream of time create a mild-mannered viewing experience that can be humorous in its conciseness. Akerman performs the main role herself, and makes her body the center of the narrative.
The minimalistic film is both intimate and universal. According to Akerman, the story has evolved from her own experiences, yet isn’t biographical. The film explores loneliness, desire, and identity without explanation – quietly yet uncompromisingly.
With only her first fiction feature film, Chantal Akerman challenges the conventions of narration: Je tu il elle creates a space where the cinematic gaze can be different.
Rauli Karjalainen (translated by Vilja Hynynen)