On a northern Italian farm, Batistì and his wife decide to send their son Minec to school, sacrificing his help in the fields but hoping to break the cycle of poverty in the family. But when Minec’s shoe breaks while walking for miles, Batisti puts the family’s future at risk to replace the clog.

Chantal Akerman was just 25 years old when she set out to chronicle the monotone life of a Brussels mother and widowed housewife, working with an almost entirely female crew. The lengthy (200 minutes) film spans three days in the life of Jeanne, minutely framing her chores and hobbies in real time, intersected with gentleman callers that drop by for paid pleasures. A film that requires a determined mindset but rewards the persistent viewer with a truly unique cinematic experience.