Chantal Akerman's 'Ma mère rit' Reviewed: A Contract of Mimesis

In a review for Artpress, Patrick Kéchichian examines Chantal Akerman's book 'Ma mère rit', published by Mercure de France. The reviewer describes the implicit contract Akerman offers the reader: to adopt a mimetic position, following the rhythm and meanders of her narrative rather than seeking logical understanding. Kéchichian admits initial resistance until page 92, where Akerman writes about speaking falsely and destructively during a violent breakup with her partner C. The book includes stills from Akerman's films and family photographs, including one of her mother laughing on a beach, which echoes the title. Akerman, described as 'a woman of images' and 'a filmmaker and artist more than a writer,' writes in the present tense about her mother, who survives with fading memories of Nazi camps. The author refers to herself as 'a vieil enfant' (old child), never having become an adult. The narrative moves between New York, Brussels, Paris, and Mexico, revealing a depressed, angry, impulsive, and solitary figure. Akerman does not explain her films or herself, offering only minimal phrases in an intimate circle. Kéchichian concludes that writing is not a liberation for Akerman, but the book carries a remarkable weight of truth and sincerity.