A possibly murderous mystery where Marriage Story meets courtroom drama, French director Justine Triet presents Anatomy of a Fall. After premiering at Cannes Film Festival this year and winning the prestigious Palme d’Or, this film has proven to be one worthy of audiences worldwide. From beginning to end, Anatomy of a Fall is an entertaining and emotionally driven film with questions around each corner to keep the audience’s attention on lock.
Anatomy of a Fall tells the story of two renowned writers, Sandra (Sandra Hüller) and Samuel (Samuel Thies), who reside in rural France with their visually impaired son Daniel (Milo Machado-Graner). After Samuel is found dead after falling out of a window, Sandra and Daniel must deal with the aftermath and public attention that follows. What at first appears to be an accident is soon called into question as intentional, with Sandra being placed as the suspect. Over the course of this trial, moments from the family’s life and Samuel’s last living years are recounted in hope of revealing how he actually died, and at whose hand.
Once the trial begins and evidence starts mounting, events from the family’s past are spliced into the story. Whether inserted as entirely separate scenes or only verbally described via witness testimony, these events challenge the viewer’s confidence about which side of the story is the truth. With each new revelation though, our attachment to these characters and captivation by this mysterious death quickly intensify.
The realism of this story is rooted in its characters, each of which is well-developed and important in their own way. Even Daniel’s dog Snoop has his moments to shine! (Fun fact: Snoop’s actor won Cannes Film Festival’s Palm Dog Award.) However, Sandra and Daniel are the two characters where the emotional depth of Triet’s writing is on full display. The beautifully explored arc of their relationship is also largely owed to Hüller’s sensational performance as Sandra.
Another notable element of this film is its soundtrack—the only two songs featured are 50 Cent’s “P.I.M.P.” and Frédéric Chopin’s “Prelude in E minor, Op. 28, No. 4.” There is no actual score for this film, so in terms of music, all we are left with is this strange yet unique juxtaposition of these two songs. While “P.I.M.P.” gets its glory, the melancholic tugging of the prelude is unforgettable. This melody repeats during moments of Sandra’s and Daniel’s overbearing grief, emphasizing their feelings of longing and sadness through sound. It’s the only music that permeates the otherwise silent air, which speaks to the prelude’s significance.
Ultimately, the anguish represented by this song and its perpetual importance remind us of what’s to come for Sandra and Daniel. Even before we know the verdict of Samuel’s trial, these are a wife and son who must carry on living with one less husband and one less father—the real trial for this family.
4.5/5 STARS