Tuesday is DVD release day and while this usually doesn’t mean too much to me, today there are some really good movies coming out.

The first is a movie near and dear to my heart (and one that I’ve blogged about before), Chantal Akerman’s Jeanne Dielman, 23 Quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles (Criterion).  Upon the release of the DVD I thought I’d repost something I wrote back in January after seeing the film in a theater for the 2nd time.

Take note that despite the very true things I wrote below that the film is really quite incredible and is much more a feminist work than an environmental work. It is also a film that hasn’t been readily available in the past. Now that is on DVD you should really check it out.

On Monday night I got to see Chantal Akerman’s JEANNE DIELMAN, 23 QUAI DU COMMERCE, 1080 BRUXELLES on the big screen for the second time.  It is an amazing film and is more or less about a woman, her routine and what happens when that routine starts to crumble.  It is also 3.5 hours long, and for a movie that places character above plot (not much happens) it is incredibly riveting.  This time while watching the film I was really struck by Jeanne’s conservation efforts.  In fact, despite her problems, Jeanne Dielman could be the poster woman for conservationism:

+ She is always turning the lights off when she leaves a room - even if she knows that she may be back soon.  The only light on in her house is the light in the room she is in!

+ She brings her own bag when shopping.

+ More than that she brings her own bag for bread and other goods that need extra packaging.

+ She reuses her paper products - for example she takes the paper her veal was wrapped in and uses it to clean the flour off the table.

+ She keeps the coffee that she makes in the morning in a thermos so she can enjoy it throughout the day instead of making a new pot (usually).

+ She knits her son’s sweaters.

+ She buys fresh food daily to make for her and her son - instead of buying excess food or processed food.

We could all learn something from how Jeanne chooses to live her life (well in relation to the things above anyway).

Also out today the DVDS for the wonderful The Last Days of Disco (Criterion) and the important Trouble the Water (Zeitgeist).