Je tu il elle (1974) was shown with its French title. It translates into I you he she. The movie was co-written and directed by Chantal Akerman.
Chantal Akerman portrays Julie. She is the "I" of the title. For the first third of the movie, Julie stays in her small apartment. We hear her thoughts in voiceover. Often the thoughts don't match what we're seeing on the screen. Akerman has built in a lag. For example, she might say, "I undressed and lay on my bed." What we see is Akerman sitting on a chair, eating sugar. Later, we may see her undressed on her bed.
This part of he film is strange, because all Julie eats is sugar, which she eats by the spoonful from a bag. She also tells us that she has painted the furniture different colors, although we can't see this because it's a black-and- white movie. She's waiting for someone or something, although we don't know for whom or for what. (I was waiting for her teeth to rot out.)
In the second part of the movie, Julie hitchhikes and gets picked up by a truck driver. He's played by Niels Arestrup, who is apparently a active actor in France, although I hadn't heard of him. He's a decent enough person, and doesn't harm her in any way. I assume he is the "il" in the title.
In the final third of the movie, Julie arrives at the apartment of "Girlfriend." (She must be "elle.") She's portrayed by Claire Wauthion, a well-known Belgian actor with whom I'm not familiar.
It's clear in context that she and Julie had been lovers, and they had a serious breakup. We know that because the first thing Girlfriend says to Julie is, "I want you to leave."
However, Julie doesn't leave. What follows is a ten-minute scene of lesbian lovemaking. No subtle shadows and sighs--the real thing. If it weren't art, it would be porn.
That's why I labeled this review as having a spoiler. If lesbian love turns you off, watch another movie. If not, this one is interesting. Strange, but interesting. Akerman has her unique style, and you have to accept it to enjoy her work.
This movie is part of the Eclipse Criterion Collection. (Series 19: Chantal Akerman in the Seventies.)
Je tu il elle has an IMDb rating of 6.8. I agreed, and rated it 7.
Chantal Akerman portrays Julie. She is the "I" of the title. For the first third of the movie, Julie stays in her small apartment. We hear her thoughts in voiceover. Often the thoughts don't match what we're seeing on the screen. Akerman has built in a lag. For example, she might say, "I undressed and lay on my bed." What we see is Akerman sitting on a chair, eating sugar. Later, we may see her undressed on her bed.
This part of he film is strange, because all Julie eats is sugar, which she eats by the spoonful from a bag. She also tells us that she has painted the furniture different colors, although we can't see this because it's a black-and- white movie. She's waiting for someone or something, although we don't know for whom or for what. (I was waiting for her teeth to rot out.)
In the second part of the movie, Julie hitchhikes and gets picked up by a truck driver. He's played by Niels Arestrup, who is apparently a active actor in France, although I hadn't heard of him. He's a decent enough person, and doesn't harm her in any way. I assume he is the "il" in the title.
In the final third of the movie, Julie arrives at the apartment of "Girlfriend." (She must be "elle.") She's portrayed by Claire Wauthion, a well-known Belgian actor with whom I'm not familiar.
It's clear in context that she and Julie had been lovers, and they had a serious breakup. We know that because the first thing Girlfriend says to Julie is, "I want you to leave."
However, Julie doesn't leave. What follows is a ten-minute scene of lesbian lovemaking. No subtle shadows and sighs--the real thing. If it weren't art, it would be porn.
That's why I labeled this review as having a spoiler. If lesbian love turns you off, watch another movie. If not, this one is interesting. Strange, but interesting. Akerman has her unique style, and you have to accept it to enjoy her work.
This movie is part of the Eclipse Criterion Collection. (Series 19: Chantal Akerman in the Seventies.)
Je tu il elle has an IMDb rating of 6.8. I agreed, and rated it 7.