2.1.24
I swear I’ll never be able to listen to 50 Cent’s music the same way again.
Anatomy of a Fall reflects a remarkable high in intensely dramatic, dialogue-driven cinema. It also, but less seriously, makes a compelling case for adding a new Oscars category honouring animal actors, because the dog here almost steals the show. This is director Justine Triet’s first film worthy of mention, with its storyline coming to fruition during the COVID period. It’s an effort brimming with intelligence regarding observations on marriage, as it probes all the high lows, secrets and compromises within domestic life.
Lead actor here Sandra Huller demonstrates once again her status as a seriously impressive actor following the triumph of Toni Erdmann a few years back. Her upcoming offering in 2024, The Zone of Interest under Jonathan Glazer’s hand, should similarly impress and I am so here for it. Here a German woman who speaks English mainly and tries to speak French pretty damn convincingly creates lots of facades and muddies her statements, creating more confusion around who she is, which is an element I have never before seen in a film like this, to its massive credit. Thanks to Triet, Anatomy of a Fall impeccably probes the enigmas central to this whodunit with extreme precision, intricately layering characters, reactions and hypotheticals against each other, making the film both an exceptional courtroom thriller as well as a marital case study.
Aside from Huller and Snoop the dog, the whole cast shines throughout the film, as it feels they are so in tune with the required dramatism needed to make the story so compelling. The script is complex but precise, belying satisfying surprises at every turn. It’s well-balanced in its use of both French and English dialogue to maximise accessibility, which is obviously why it is proving itself so popular as one of the best of the year. Its shocking moments and expert editing must be singled out as particular strengths.
But what makes the film so special is its willingness to leave some questions unresolved regarding the fall, fully intriguing without frustration. Another key pleasure is how it teases both scenarios of what happened through shocking, intensely dramatic moments expertly edited for maximum impact. But the concrete mark of masterwork lies in the uncertainty; the lingering doubts and a missing puzzle piece that stays maddeningly out of reach. For all its hugely impressive elements, this uncertainty forms the pinnacle of the film’s appeal.
Ultimately, the opaqueness of Anatomy of a Fall’s mystery cements its emerging reputation as a contemporary dramatic masterpiece. Such bold directorial choices re-introduce Justine Triet as an impressive new cinematic voice who has helmed a five-star tour de force, of mystery and doubts that refuse resolution. Unmissable. My favourite film of 2023.