"Golden Eighties" A song born from the collapse, a present for another Jeanne

An adult woman knows

“A grown man knows everything/Fear, money, love, the smell of death.”

Jeanne's son Robert is in love with the free-spirited Lili. Lili sings to her adulterous partner about things that grown men know everything about. However, the men in this film look innocently like love-mad children. Rather, it is Jeanne who knows the smell of death, as well as other women like young Lili, Mado, and Pascal. Lili's song goes beyond her own will and functions as a satire against men.

In the scene where Jeanne and Eli go on a date at the movie theater, Eli's face is painted in shadow. The light emitted from the screen illuminated Jeanne's face like a spotlight. Jeanne's senses become sharper in the darkness of the movie theater. Chantal Akerman is a filmmaker who loves the purity of the night. Darkness makes people's senses more sensitive. What becomes visible for the first time at the moment the brightness is lost is shown in close-up. At this moment, Jeanne's face shows the fatigue of The Way We Were and the fear of new love.

"Golden Eighties" © Jean Ber - Fonda&on Chantal Akerman

Jeanne decides to protect Mado and Lili, who are still young. The most moving thing about ``Golden Eighties'' is Jeanne's decision. Jeanne knows that love can destroy a life, and that love can take away one's youth. Beautiful Mado in a wedding dress. The scene of Jeanne not letting go of the abandoned bride Mado's hand is moving. I don't know if Jeanne's actions are right or not. However, Jeanne's commitment to the next generation and the next woman is clearly visible in her efforts to protect her young love. It is also an act of self-reliance against the image of ``(feminine) happiness'' created by advertising.

Text: Daiji Miyashiro (maplecat-eve)

Movie criticism. Contributed reviews to ``Leos Carax: Movie Wanderer'', Eureka's ``Wes Anderson Special'', Real Sound, Soen, otocoto, Toshio Matsumoto Special Pamphlet, etc.

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"Golden Eighties"

"Chantal Akerman Film Festival 2023"

Held at Human Trust Cinema Shibuya from April 7th (Friday) to April 27th (Thursday)

Other nationwide roadshows

Sponsor: Mermaid Film Distributor: Copiapoa Film Promotion: VALERIA

© Jean Ber - Fonda&on Chantal Akerman