The best film in history is neither ‘The Godfather’ nor ‘Vertigo’: experts choose a film by Belgian Chantal Akerman

For once he hasn’t won The Godfatherby Francis Ford Coppola. Neither Vertigo, by Alfred Hitchcock, or Citizen Kane, by Orson Welles, the most common winners when trying to choose the best film ever. All of them are in the new selection of the british magazine sight and sound, which every 10 years publishes a list of the best 100 films in history, considered one of the most prestigious and extensive in the sector, with more than 1,600 experts surveyed. And that of 2022, unveiled yesterday Thursday, has at its peak Jeanne Dielman, 23, Quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles, from the Belgian director Chantal Akermannreleased in 1975.

The film, over three hours long, is not available on any platform for viewing in Spain. It centers on a widow who does what she can to make ends meet and take care of her home and her child. Until an unforeseen event revolutionizes her existence. In the previous edition of the list, in 2012, it was ranked 36th and was one of the only two features directed by a woman among the selection, along with Good work, by Claire Denise, then at number 78 and which has now risen to number 7. In the new publication, the filmmakers contribute 11 of the 100 films chosen. The third best placed is Cleo from 5 to 7by Agnès Varda, in 14th place.

Vertigo it goes from topping the list to number two. Y Citizen Kane, who also led the team for several decades, now settles for the bronze medal. tales from tokyo by Yasujiro Ozu, and wishing to love, by Wong Kar-wai, complete the top 5 chosen by 1,600 critics, curators, distributors, archivists, researchers and other experts consulted by Sight and Sound. The spirit of the hive, by Víctor Erice, is the only Spanish representative, in position 84. There are no films from Latin America in the selection. The USA (36 films), France (32) and Italy (13) are the most represented production locations.

The magazine and the British Film Institute, co-responsible for the list and publisher of the publication, have practically doubled the number of participants compared to the previous edition (846), also in an attempt to increase the inclusion and representativeness of the jury. “The streaming and digital communication have created opportunities to amplify voices and films that were less seen before. declared to The New York Times Mike Williams, editor of Sight and Sound.

Hence, the selection offers several new features compared to its previous edition. For the first time, two animated works enter: my neighbor totoro (72) and chichiro’s journey (75), both by Hayao Miyazaki. There are also four films released in the last decade (Portrait of a woman on fire by Céline Sciamma, at number 30; Moon light, of Barry Jenkins, in the 60; parasites, of Bong Joon Ho, in the 90s, and Let me out, by Jordan Peele, in 95), compared to none on the 2012 list. Then, in addition, Djibril Diop Mambéty, with Touki Boukiwas the only black filmmaker present in the selection: now they appear, among others, Spike Lee, in position 24 with do what you must or Charles Burnett, in ’43, with Killer of Sheep.

The new income, evidently, entails some exit. Among otherThe New York Times highlights that films such as wild bunch, by Sam Peckinpah; chinatown, by Roman Polanski; either lawrence of arabia, by David Lean. The American newspaper also explains the methodology of the list: its organizers ask each expert for a selection of the 10 most important films in history – the criterion is “greatness” and each one can interpret it as they wish – without an order of preferences. The definitive list comes out based on adding the times that each film has been chosen by one of the members of the jury.