Anatomy of a Fall: Justin Trietti’s 2023 Palme d’Or film inspired by a true story?

What is it about?

Sandra, Samuel and their 11-year-old visually impaired son, Daniel, have been living in the mountains for a year, away from it all. 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 true autopsy of the couple.

And here is the golden palm branch! After a big poster campaign, multiple media relays and previews (including the AlloCiné Club, which recognized the film), Anatomy of the Fall hits screens this Wednesday, three months after its coronation at Cannes.

Justin Triet’s film fascinates us with its plot and session around this mysterious death: suicide or murder? Then begins the experimental film, original and ambitious, about which we spoke with its director and co-screenwriter. Specifically by asking the following question: Is the movie based on real events?

“It is not based on a true story at all. It is completely composed.. Justin Triet answers in full. and adds:On the other hand, we worked a lot with Vincent Courcelle-Labrousse, a criminal lawyer who has seen a lot of cases and helped us avoid copying all the little things that we can see from American films and register them. A film in France, with French justice. He helped make it very realistic. We built the film with his help to make it believable.”

“Often in American films, your dignity is challenged. Floor allocation is highly orchestrated by the court president. In France it is very different. (…) We also celebrated the French side with the architecture, placing the action in the old court. But at the same time, we wanted to modernize using microphones. Microphones are very common in courts today. Don’t play the traditional French side, the old way; Have a lawyer who speaks very loudly. The Dupont-Moret side, if I may say so.

When you’re making an experimental film, you can’t be naive. We are coming after many films that have already been made. My intention was really to find movement in this space.“

In the video at the top of the article, discover the longer version of this interview with Justin Triet and above, in the presence of the best camera crew from our AlloCiné club of the night. And for a long Palme d’Or briefing, we recommend our podcast.

Palme d’Or Anatomy of the Fall by Justin Triet, co-authored by Justin Triet and Arthur Harrar, with Sandra Huler, Swan Arlod, Antoine Reinartz, Milo Machado Graner, and Samuel Tay.