by Shane Conto, Staff Writer
Are you ready to see what this year’s Palme d’Or winner has in store for us? This world-famous award is the highest prize at the Cannes Film Festival, and has been given to some of the biggest films over the years, as well as some of the most thematically and narratively bold and ambitious. Let’s not forget that Titane won the award just a few years ago, and that is about a murderous woman who has sex with her car. No… that is not an exaggeration. Even global sensation and Oscar Best Picture winner Parasite took the award as well. But this year, we have a murder mystery with a dash of courtroom and family drama in our place.
What does Anatomy of a Fall have in store for you? Director Justine Triet represents France with this mysterious film stuffed with some thrills, some laughs, and plenty of emotion. With the falling death of her husband, Sandra Hüller’s Sandra must navigate an investigation to determine if there was foul play. But the complication? Their blind son is the only witness to the events. This film does run for an intimidating two-and-a-half hours. Triet offers up a specific, mundane feel that makes the film feel so domestic. The negative? At times, the pacing feels glacial, as the film weavers in the energy it provides. The presentation can feel uneven as well. There are moments with some impressive and engaging framing and camerawork, but during the procedural scenes inside the courtroom, the film feels so drab and basic that it can be hard to keep paying attention, especially with the runtime.
But does the story help elevate some of the more uneven moments of the film? This is quite the intriguing screenplay from Triet and co-writer Arthur Harari. It features an impressive narrative drive and structure. You never quite know where things are going, or how the journey gets there. This is not a film dedicated to being a traditional narrative structure, and it avoids delivering an easy-to-digest ending. Its bold writing makes it stand out. Sure, the film is a murder mystery (or was it murder?), but it delivers an emotional journey with its central, complex dynamic between mother and son. The way the film navigates this dynamic in the aftermath of parental death is quite impressive, and probably its strongest element. The most obvious assessment of this film is that it is NOT American. All those expectations and baggage that American audiences bring into viewing experiences gets stripped away by this unexpected journey.
What helps truly accentuate Triet’s work on the page and behind the camera? Hüller is the true MVP. Her performance is mysterious (just as mysterious as the “murder/accident” debate at the center of this film), with plenty of layers. There is so much emotion that is on display when the film navigates her now complex dynamic with her son. It is equal parts tragic and loving. Nothing stands out more than Hüller’s work, thanks to the mystery behind every single moment she is on screen. Did she do it? Is she being targeted for what was nothing more than an accident? Hüller makes sure the audience does not know. When it comes down to it, Anatomy of a Fall would not work as effectively as it does without the effort of its leading performer.
Does Anatomy of a Fall stand out among other recent Palme d’Or winners? It lacks the craziness of Triangle of Sadness, Titante, and The Square, but it does boast some of the narrative complexity that makes Parasite so memorable. As it stands on its own, though, it delivers quite a bit of thematic depth, and a complex experience that will challenge its audience. The flaws are quite apparent, but the overall work is a special experience.
Rating: Liked It
Anatomy of a Fall is currently playing in theaters
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