anatomy of a fall

8/10  - Directed by Justine Triet - 2023 - 150 minutes

Justine Triet's Anatomy of a Fall proudly defies the pompous cynicism of the so-called cinephiles who insist that great films are no longer made. The film stars Sandra Hüller during her critically lauded run of film appearances in 2023, along with a rather brilliant supporting cast of Swann Arlaud, Milo Machado-Graner and Samuel Theis. Anatomy of a Fall follows a novelist trying to prove her innocence in an investigation of her husband's untimely death. The title refers to the husband, Samuel, and his fall from a window in their isolated mountain house near Grenoble. 

One could say the most impressive component of the movie is its incorporation of some great camera work and use of music and sound. Most obviously Anatomy of A Fall opens with a masterfully shot buildup to Daniel's discovery of his father's body in the snow as the steel pan instrumental of 50 Cent's "P.I.M.P" blares in the background. Throughout the movie the interior of the house feels warm in contrast to the vast, stunning, snow covered landscape which Triet artfully displays. But the visuals are not the centerpiece of the movie, they are a vessel for a tense exploration of a broken family. The exposition and furthering of the plot are mostly divided between the trial of the central character, Sandra Voyter, and her separate interactions with her lawyer and other figures such as her son, Daniel, who is visually impaired. While the death is initially thought of as a suicide, the movie explores the tragic rifts in the marriage of Samuel and Sandra, dissecting their relationship and the semantics of Samuel's fall in court as Sandra is accused of murdering him. The cold atmosphere of the courtroom is a beautiful contrast with the overwhelmingly depressing nature of Sandra's grief. Hüller is spectacular. The same may be said for Machado-Graner, who gives a performance so powerful and so impressive for an actor of only fourteen.

Anatomy of a Fall is a resounding triumph, a beautiful dive into loss and the struggles of being an artist and navigating life with a family.