(spoiler free)
Winning the prestigious Palme d’Or at Cannes can be both a blessing and a curse. Of course, it immediately raises the profile of the recipient, but it also dramatically increases audience expectation. Over the coming weeks and months of the festival circuit, living up to the hype generated from receiving this prize can prove difficult. This year’s winner, Justine Triet’s Anatomy of a Fall, also has the added pressure of receiving the alternative yet, to the cultured among us, equally as well-regarded, Palme Dog Award. But thankfully, with a wealth of evidence on display throughout, it doesn’t take long for Triet’s much-celebrated courtroom drama to prove just why it’s deserving of such accolades.
Anatomy of a Fall follows a novelist, Sandra (Sandra Hüller), who finds herself at the centre of a criminal investigation when her husband, Samuel (Samuel Theis), is found dead outside their snowy chalet in Grenoble. Stumbled upon by their partially-blind son, Daniel (Milo Machado-Graner), returning from a walk with his guide dog Snoop, his discovery leaves Sandra as the prime suspect. Did Samuel fall from the attic window, or was he pushed? This is the mystery that Anatomy of a Fall ponders over the coming hours of its generous runtime.
Triet instantly immerses audiences into the direct prelude of Samuel’s death. As Sandra is interviewed by a journalist downstairs, Samuel works in the attic above. However, there’s obvious tension in the house, as Samuel obnoxiously and repetitively blasts 50 Cent’s “P.I.M.P.” in order to disrupt his wife’s conversation. Right from the word go this insight allows audiences to begin speculating as to what might have happened just afterwards. As characters start to recount their versions of events these can be verified against what viewers have already been shown. The initial speculation this allows for affords a level of intrigue that’s vital for drawing in its audience, but it’s when Anatomy of a Fall arrives at its trial that it really comes into its own.
The various stages of the French court proceedings are gripping, with each line of questioning by the prosecution (a superb Antoine Reinartz) becoming more compelling than the last. The back-and-forth between those testifying, the prosecution’s interrogation, the defence’s objections and the authoritative interjections from the judge makes for some of the most captivating courtroom drama in recent memory. This is predominately because the trial is allowed the necessary space to properly develop, so much so that Anatomy of a Fall naturally progresses from thrilling courtroom drama to complex relationship piece. This combination of genres works wonders, with each enriching the other and allowing the film to contemplate the fine line between reality and fantasy.
With that in mind it would be completely reasonable to expect the screenplay – co-written by Triet and Arthur Harari – to be the undisputable star of the show. However, when Sandra Hüller delivers such a powerhouse of a leading performance as well, it’s just not that simple. She excels in the relationship drama that unfolds mostly within one extended flashback sequence, conjuring some truly engrossing chemistry with co-star Samuel Theis who also impresses despite his comparatively smaller role. It’s when Sandra’s on the stand that Hüller is maybe the most riveting though, reciting lengthy monologues, often in a mixture of French and English, while simultaneously ensuring the abundance of dialogue is layered with authentic expression. It’s an acting masterclass and utterly fascinating to watch.
As if this wasn’t enough, Milo Machado-Graner, as her on-screen son, and his canine companion offer even further, tremendous support. Machado-Graner conveys emotional depth that seems far beyond his own years, while Border Collie Messi seriously rivals the performances of the entire human cast. The plethora of acting talent creates a remarkable ensemble that makes every aspect of Anatomy of a Fall a thrill to watch. Subsequently, Triet’s film transcends any sense of time while its searches for the truth, or at least each character’s desired version of it. Ultimately asking: which will be easier to bear?
Written by Hamish Calvert
★★★★★
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