JE, TU, IL, ELLE (aka I, YOU, HE, SHE) (1974)

 

Directed By: Chantal Akerman

Written By: Chantal Akerman, Eric De Kuyper and Paul Paquay

Cinematography: Benedicte Delasalle, Renelde Dupont and Charlotte Szlovak

Editor: Luc Freche and Genevieve Luciani

Cast: Chantal Akerman, Niels Arestrup, Claire Wauthion

A young woman, alone in her room, is plagued by love-sickness. She rearranges the few pieces of furniture and then takes them out, with the exception of her mattress. Little by little, she also gets rid of her clothes, eats sugar and writes a letter. Finally, the woman leaves the flat. A lorry driver gives her a lift, enabling her to get to the woman she loves.

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 Chantel Ackerman’s Je, Tu, Il, Elle. One can dig the idea, it’s experimental nature that feels Like a Documentary and performance artist piece all

In one, that she fictionalized a bit. Heartfelt but leaves one feeling empty. As it feels more like a feature length student film. It’s an experience though. 

A film Ultimately about female Sexuality in all of its Forms in one character in her time of existential romantic crisis. That also highlights her mental breakdown and how she cope with it. 

Especially In the second act Where it opens ip 

To two Characters after the first Act of Only her. 

Now it’s her and The truck driver for a long time wordless then finally he Speaks he is talking

To Her. Only directly Into the camera so

It looks Like she is filming him and this is a confessional.

if particularly feels like a chore sitting through this film as there are many scenes were things seem to happen in real time I’m thinking, especially of the shaving scene where I guess as she’s getting to know the truck driver we’re getting to know them just as in the first act, we’re being introduced not to the situation, but the character and getting to know her and her mindset and act she more or less takes her backseat to the truck so she is still there, and this is purely her view.

As Director and actor Chantel Akerman. it gets a little confusing or becomes more and more mad and subversive as are we getting to know the character, the situation the vision or the story.

Then In the third act she finds herself in a same sex relationship that seems to finally release the call energy and call To mind the seduction the previous section with the truck Driver lacks with an extended love Making sequence that is plain and simple devoid of anything erotic. It actually looks more like wrestling. Though is gross enough to rival BLUE IS THE WARMEST COLOR.

As the character tries to find love in these nearly wordless rebounds to get her out of her depression and forget her ex.

In the end we have watched a character through her own lens and neurosis. Though we are never closer to finding out if she is over it or still suffering or really if love for her is just an addiction and she’s trying to find a new one 

Grade: B