Anatomy of a Fall is the mystery of a suspicious death. Novelist Sandra Voyter’s (Sandra Hüller) life has become frustrating. She lives in an isolated chalet in Grenoble with her husband Samuel (Samuel Theis), a fellow (struggling) writer, and their partially blind 11-year-old son Daniel (Milo Machado-Graner). Tensions have risen given Samuel’s inability to match his wife’s literary success and Sandra’s displeasure living in France. One day after walking the dog, Daniel finds his father’s dead body in the snow below an open window. With his mother Sandra being the only one home when the death occurred, she immediately becomes a suspect. What unravels next is an invasive exploration into the dynamics of their relationship as both sides of the law attempt to uncover the truth about what really happened.
What works in Anatomy of a Fall is the muted suspense and sharp characters. Writer/director Justine Triet (Sibyl) has crafted a deliberate slow burn full of twists and turns. As evidence is revealed, the audience becomes the jury weighing fact and speculation. The ensemble—anchored by an incredible display from Hüller—all provide weight and credibility to the proceedings. They consistently ask the “right” questions, and act in relatable rationale ways given the circumstances. The result is a taut thriller propelled by dialogue and performance. The attention to detail and humanization of the characters results in a highly engaging, and purposefully unnerving, experience.
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Audiences uncomfortable with portrayals of extreme familial strife may not enjoy Anatomy of a Fall as much as others. The film tackles some very weighty issues including suicide, murder, and depression head on. Further, a lot of the story focuses on Daniel’s consumption of the events unfolding. He has to be present and testify in court about his perceptions of his parents’ turbulent marriage and his conjecture of the truth. While realistic, these moments could prove very unsettling for some given the emotional trauma that is clearly bubbling up.
Anatomy of a Fall is a cerebral roller-coaster, with every twist, turn, and drop meticulously designed. The masterclass script from Triet and Arthur Harari (Onoda: 10,000 Nights in the Jungle) will keep people guessing up until the very end and on the edge of their seats. Highly recommended.
Note: Anatomy of a Fall is the winner of the 2023 Palme D’Or, the top prize of the Cannes Film Festival
Recommended if you Enjoyed: Presumed Innocent, Just Mercy
Anatomy of a Fall is now available in selected theaters.
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