Les Années 80

The Eighties

A chance to see Akerman at work behind the camera but also so much more than a ‘making of’ movie.

  • Director

    Chantal Akerman

  • With

    Chantal Akerman, Aischa Bentebouche, Katherine Best, François Beukelaers

  • Belgium-France 1983. 79min

  • Digital

  • Certificate

    15

  • English subtitles

Although described by Akerman as a ‘test run’ for her musical Golden Eighties, this ingenious meta film is so much more. Fragments of rehearsals show actors refining moments of riotous fantasy and passion – with even Akerman belting her heart out in one memorable recording session. In the film, she holds up a magnifying glass to show illusion crystallising, asking the question: ‘How, with reality, do you arrive at fiction?’

+ Lettre d’une cinéaste: Chantal Akerman

Letter from a Filmmaker: Chantal Akerman

France 2 1984. 8min. Digital. English subtitles

+ Family Business

Channel 4 1984. 18 min. Digital. English subtitles

Two shorts questioning the act of filmmaking.

Total running time 105min.