Self Portraits - Akerman and Godard

Jean-Luc Godard and Chantal Akerman turn the camera on themselves in two distinct explorations of artistic identity and cinematic legacy. In JLG/JLG – Self-Portrait in December and Chantal Akerman by Chantal Akerman, the filmmakers reflect on their lives and work, examining their place in cinema through personal reflection, philosophical meditation, and excerpts from their films. Solemn and introspective in Godard’s case, playful and self-aware in Akerman’s, these self-portraits offer a glimpse in the minds behind two different bodies of work.

Chantal Akerman by Chantal Akerman (2001)
Dir. Chantal Akerman With Chantal Akerman
64min; Digital
In French with English subtitles

"One of the finest filmmakers working anywhere … an excellent introduction to her work. A Must-See."—Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader

When invited to participate in the Cinéma, de notre temps series, Chantal Akerman jokingly suggested herself as the subject. Initially envisioning a film composed entirely of excerpts from her own work, she eventually agreed to include footage of herself, dividing the film into two parts.

Akerman reflects on her filmmaking career and creative process, combining personal reflections with excerpts from her extensive filmography, including Jeanne Dielman, experimental films, comedies, musicals, and narrative features.

JLG/JLG – Self-Portrait in December (1994)
Dir. Jean-Luc Godard
With Jean-Luc Godard
56min; DCP
In French with English subtitles

French-Swiss filmmaker Jean-Luc Godard reflects on mortality, cinema history, and his place in the art world. Set in an elegiac and solitary atmosphere, Godard stars as a fictionalized version of himself, weaving together personal reflections, philosophical observations, and meditations on cinema. Moments of dry humor, interactions with household staff, and sharp jabs at his critics occasionally lighten the mood. This culturally dense self-portrait explores Godard’s life and artistic identity alongside the films that have shaped his legacy.