A One Mann’s Movies review of “Anatomy of a Fall” (2023).
Original title: Anatomie d’une chute
“Anatomy of a Fall” is a murder/mystery that I was highly anticipating and I was not disappointed. As it won the Palme d’Or at Cannes 2023, it comes with pedigree. (Mind you, last year they picked “Triangle of Sadness“, so it’s not a cast-iron guarantee!)
Bob the Movie Man Rating:
Plot Summary:
Sandra Voyter (Sandra Hüller) is a German writer living with her French husband Samuel (Samuel Theis) and visually impaired son Daniel (Milo Machado Graner) in Samuel’s home village in the Alps. When Samuel is found dead in the snow below their loft window, suspicion falls on Sandra as the secrets of the past are revealed.
Certification:
UK: 15; US: R. (From the BBFC web site: “Strong language, bloody images”).
Talent:
Starring: Sandra Hüller, Samuel Theis, Milo Machado Graner, Swann Arlaud, Antoine Reinartz, Jehnny Beth, Camille Rutherford.
Directed by: Justine Triet.
Written by: Justine Triet & Arthur Harari.
Twitter Handle: #AnatomyofaFall.
Running Time: 2h 31m.
Defence lawyer Vincent (Swann Arlaud) briefing Sandra (Sandra Hüller) on the latest in the case. (Source: Lionsgate).
“Anatomy of a Fall” Review:
Positives:
- This one keeps you guessing throughout. Did he fall by accident? Did he jump? Did he get pushed? Did the dog do it? (No, I made the last one up.) As we progress through a police investigation and then through a subsequent show-trial, your emotions and beliefs are constantly being pulled backwards and forwards. It reminded me of being a jury member on an actual trial in the UK: whenever the defence lawyer made their argument you’d think “Oh, they’re innocent”; Then the prosecutor would address the same points and you’d think “Oh, they’re guilty”.
- All of this is helped by a phenomenal performance by Sandra Hüller. Just brilliant. I understand from another article I read that Hüller wasn’t told the outcome of the film: whether she herself was guilty or innocent. So she is natuarally reacting to the scenes and the evidence as it emerges. Sandra’s sexuality matched with Hüller’s acting brings a frisson of tension to all of her dealings with the women in the plot: Marge (Jehnny Beth), the assigned Daniel-watcher, and Zoe (Camille Rutherford), Sandra’s interviewer.
- Also strong in supporting roles are:
- Milo Machado Graner as the young son Daniel, with luminous but cloudy eyes that emote so much;
- Swann Arlaud as Vincent Renzi, Sandra’s defence lawyer who still holds a personal torch for her going back many years. His pragmatic responses to Sandra are memorable: “I did not kill him” Sandra states. “That’s not the point” he replies. Later, in a similar vein, he shouts “I don’t give a fuck about reality”.
- Messi as “Snoop” the dog! When the body is discovered, this seems to be a surprise to the dog too!
- There are some lovely directorial touches in the film.
- A year passing is cleverly reflected in Daniel perfecting the piano piece that he has been working on earlier in the film.
- In a recorded argument, we cut away from the video version of the scene at a crucial point. We just hear the audio…. ie. what the jury is hearing, as they struggle to paint the correct mental pictures of what is happening.
- I found it really interesting to see the approach to the trial in France as well. It seemed to be more dynamic and interactive than our UK trials. Sandra always seemed to be ‘in the box’ and able to respond to queries as an when they came up. (I assume this is a realistic portrayal, and not just done for effect?)
Negatives:
- For reasons I mention in a spoiler section (below the trailer), there’s a certain degree of frustration involved at the end of the film.
- At 151 minutes, I know some have commented that the film is too long. But I actually don’t agree since I was so engaged that the film sped by.
For every defence lawyer, there’s the prosecution. Antoine Reinartz powerfully delivers as the ‘Avocat général’ (Source: Lionsgate)
Summary Thoughts on “Anatomy of a Fall”
This is a cracking film and for once I fully agree with the Cannes jury. Get to try to see it on the big screen if you can.
Where to Watch it (Powered by Justwatch)
Trailer for “Anatomy of a Fall”:
The trailer is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fTrsp5BMloA .
Spoiler Section
Don’t read past this point if you’ve not seen the movie.
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NO, SERIOUSLY!
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So, the sense of frustration at the ending? Even though Sandra is acquitted by the court, you are never certain whether she was justly acquitted or whether she ‘got away with it’. I was half expecting a re-living of the actual events as told from Sandra’s point of view prior to the end-titles. But this never came.
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