Saturday, August 26, 2023

There's no place like 'News From Home'

Metrograph has several screenings of Chantal Akerman's 1976 time capsule "News From Home" coming up this afternoon and in the days ahead. 

Per the description: 
Akerman was 26 years old and living in New York City, away from her native Belgium and her mother, when she teamed with DP Babette Mangolte to film this diary/essay/poem in subway stations and on street corners, their images to eventually be paired with Akerman's recitals of her mother's fretful letters. Arguably this extraordinary filmmaker's most perfect and poignant nonfiction work, both one of the greatest portraits of a city ever put on film and a troubling, touching depiction of maternal love. 
Locations include scenes outside Veselka on Second Avenue. (You'll catch a glimpse of the St. Marks Cinema marquee too.) 

Viewings include today (Saturday) at 3 p.m. ... plus Monday and Thursday evening. Find ticket info here

Metrograph is at 7 Ludlow St. just north of Canal.

3 comments:

  1. I love Metrograph

    ReplyDelete
  2. Ahhh, I just watched this online a few weeks ago. It is a wonderful glimpse into the state of the city at the time. It is not for the action/adventure lover but it IS for NYC lovers.
    The camera doesn't move much but since the city IS always on the move, the scenes change just as rapidly as if they were jump-cutting around the city.
    Poignant and touching - particularly for anyone who moved to the big city against the wishes of their worried parents...... Just wonderful.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Chantal Akerman was a genius. I'll never get over her suicide.

    ReplyDelete

Your remarks and lively debates are welcome, whether supportive or critical of the views herein. Your articulate, well-informed remarks that are relevant to an article are welcome.

However, commentary that is intended to "flame" or attack, that contains violence, racist comments and potential libel will not be published. Facts are helpful.

If you'd like to make personal attacks and libelous claims against people and businesses, then you may do so on your own social media accounts. Also, comments predicting when a new business will close ("I give it six weeks") will not be approved.