By Abbey Wheeler
Warning: This movie contains themes of suicide
The Cannes Palme d’Or-winner Anatomy of a Fall is an intriguing court-room drama, set against the stunning backdrop of the French Alps. The film follows the fall out after the death of aspiring writer Samuel (Samuel Theis) leaves his wife and famous author, Sandra (Sandra Huller) as the prime suspect for his assumed murder.
The story unfolds slowly, as evidence in the trial is gently teased out of witnesses by thorough questioning from lawyers. Despite getting off to a slow start, outstanding performances by Sandra Huller and her on-screen son, Milo Machado Graner, managed to breathe life into the long, drawn-out court-room scenes.
Whilst the focus of the film was undoubtedly on the complexity of familial relationships, it was the small details which really made the film shine. I found a particularly interesting plot line featuring the song “P.I.M.P.” by 50 Cent and the family’s loveable dog, Snoop, to be an unexpected highlight.
Praise should be given to the director for some of the more creative shots of the film. I found the camera work during the court-room scenes to be particularly engaging, as it gave the illusion that we were viewing the trial alongside the other spectators in the courtroom. However, I was a little disappointed by the rest of the cinematography; it seemed a shame to set the movie in such a beautiful mountainous region, without fully showing the natural beauty of the location.
This film will appeal to fans of more subtle crime dramas, as the deliberately ambiguous storyline will have you constantly questioning each character’s motives. I know I certainly left with more questions than answers.
3.5/5 Pelicans.