In News from Home, independent filmmaker Chantal Akerman ignores her mom while prowling the streets of New York documenting summer in the city circa mid 70s. With mom's letters supplying the only dialogue of glum news from Belgium, she attempts to lay a guilt trip on the non-communicative auteur, too busy recording the mundane everyday to respond back.
Akerman soberly records the New York of its day well, capturing the look and style of a community only slightly fazed at having a camera pointed at them. The subway work in particular is strong with a scene featuring a drab station slowly filling up with straphangers displaying a dreamlike quality. Much of the imagery is mundane and overlong however and patience may be required in sorting the gems from the paste while mom waits by the phone.
Akerman soberly records the New York of its day well, capturing the look and style of a community only slightly fazed at having a camera pointed at them. The subway work in particular is strong with a scene featuring a drab station slowly filling up with straphangers displaying a dreamlike quality. Much of the imagery is mundane and overlong however and patience may be required in sorting the gems from the paste while mom waits by the phone.