News From Home
Director: Chantal Akerman
Year Released: 1977
Rating: 2.0
Akerman films the streets of New York City while reading, in voice-over, letters from her Mother back in Belgium. The letters are about her Mother's concern for her safety and success (Mom tries sending some money to her) as well as updates on family and friends, but curiously Chantal doesn't read any of her letters back, leaving static, nondescript images of the Big Apple to fill in her side of the 'conversation.' At least Hotel Monterey had claustrophobia and seediness going for it; without reading the letters, this is an unremarkable 'portrait' of a city: the images are frankly ordinary and only its final image - of her camera on a boat leaving the island - makes an impression.
