What is it about?
Anatomy of a Fall combines drama, investigative and trial film. We follow Sandra, Samuel and their visually impaired 11-year-old son, Daniel, as they live far from it all in the mountains. One day Samuel was found dead at the foot of their house. The investigation into the suspicious death was started. Sandra will soon be charged, despite the suspicion: suicide or murder? A year later, Daniel attends his mother’s trial, the couple’s true autopsy…
What you need to know
It is French director Justine Triet’s 4th feature film, following La Bataille de Solferino (2013), Victoria (2016) and Sibyl (2019). The latter was already selected for the Cannes competition, but left empty-handed from the prize list.
After Victoria and Sybil, both directed by Virgin Ephyra, Justin Treet cast Sandra Huller, who was highly noticed at Cannes, in 2016’s Toni Erdmann. Fall Anatomy and Zone of Interest Jonathan Glaser, Grand Prix.
The cast also includes Swan Arlod, a young Milo Machado Graner, Antoine Reinartz, Samuel Theis and Jenny Batt.
The script was co-written by Justin Triet and Arthur Harar. The film is co-produced by Les Films de Pierre (Marie-Ange Luciani, already a producer of 120 beats per minute) and Les Films Pelléas (David Theon and Philippe Martin).
Anatomy of Autumn is the 10th French Palme d’Or branch. Moreover, this is the first time that the same film won the Palme d’Or and the Palme d’Or!
Why is the film attractive?
This is a film of fascinating density and complexity. Anatomy of a Fall is based on a very rich script that mixes genres and never goes where you expect it to. It is both the drama of a couple whose fall is told in a feature film and, above all, a thriller and a trial film. Anecdotally, Justin Triet initially thought it could be a TV series, and the producers encouraged him to make a movie.
It includes amazing scenes and real ideas of cinema, especially in its relationship with sound. After the movie, you’ll never be able to listen to Dr. Dries PIMP the same way again! The sound sequence during the trial is also a striking point.
With this plot set against the backdrop of marital drama, Anatomy of the Fall also resonates strongly with recent court news. We think the Heard-Depp moments are a trial, a trial that took place during the filming of Justin Triet’s movie.
The first enthusiastic response to the film
As I reported after the film’s official screening at Cannes, the initial critical response was overwhelmingly enthusiastic.
Discover a selection of tweets with first-hand opinions from viewers and critics:
Speech delivered during the ceremony…
At the closing ceremony of the Cannes Film Festival this evening, director Justin Trier took to the microphone to talk about social news in France.
Justin Triet noted that he could not “to be satisfied with the challenge of joy“.”This year, the country passed a historic, extremely strong, unanimous challenge to pension reform. This challenge was rejected and shockingly suppressed. And this pattern of increasingly unfettered dominant power manifests itself in several areas: socially, but also in all other areas of society, and cinema is no exception.“
and add:The commodification of culture championed by the neoliberal government is in the process of breaking through the French cultural exception. I dedicate this prize to all young directors, all young directors and even those who are unable to shoot today.“
A political speech that the Minister of Culture did not like.
The rest of his speech was about future filmmakers. “I dedicate this prize to all young directors and all young directors and even those who cannot shoot today. We have to make room for them. This place I took fifteen years ago in a slightly less hostile world, it is still possible to make mistakes and start over.“
… and already on the way up the stairs of the movie
As they climbed the stairs, Swann Arlod and Justin Triet wore a “Waste Under Screens” badge on their jackets, echoing a recent column about precarious workers release. The preamble states:Employees of these major cultural events sign contracts without any job security. However, without them and the many interns and volunteers, film festivals would be in jeopardy. According to these professionals, it is urgent to find a new model.“
Justin Triet’s Anatomy Fall will be released on August 23, 2023.
Source: Allocine
Rose James is a Gossipify movie and series reviewer known for her in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the latest releases. With a background in film studies, she provides engaging and informative reviews, and keeps readers up to date with industry trends and emerging talents.
