Nov 21

Nov 21 Chantal Akerman

Two teenage girls run away to Paris, and are faced with the challenge to survive. J’ai faim, j’ai froid articulates the film into four works. I’m hungry, I’m cold. A phrase so common in the dialogue.

Between several cigarettes, there are static shots of the girls eating, ravenously. Although this has its comedic response, it also contains notions of feminism. Stripping back gendered ideas that women should be lady-like at the dinner table. Additionally, the film stands for the strength women give each other, not relying on men, even though the world tells them too.

This is Akerman’s contribution to the Paris vu Par…20 ans après, an omnibus of shorts which illustrate different aspects of living in the city. The journey is almost self-reflective for the director, who also left Brussels for Paris.

Feminism is a theme which shows up naturally in her work. The director adds it unknowingly. After all its an organic concept, why should it even be questioned?