Anatomy Of A Fall Review

Plot: A woman is suspected of murder after her husband's death; their half-blind son faces a moral dilemma as the main witness.

Film: Anatomy Of A Fall

Director: Justin Triet

Writer: Justin Triet, Arthur Harari

Starring: Sandra Hüller, Swann Arlaud, Milo Machado-Graner

Anatomy Of A Fall is a courtroom drama from Justine Triet that already earned the Palme d’Or at Cannes Film Festival. This is a very understated film, the majority of it being made up by an intense performance from Sandra Hüller, as she is put on trail for he husbands murder, when he is found dead by their son. 

Anatomy Of A Fall sees Sandra Hüller give an emotionally driven performance as a novelist on trial following her husband’s mysterious death. The film explores the ambiguity surrounding his demise - was it an accident, suicide, or murder? Hüller portrays Sandra with nuanced complexity, oscillating between fragility and warmth towards her son Daniel played by Milo Machado Graner, while grappling with the void left by her husband.

At its heart, the film delves into the unraveling of a marriage rather than a mere investigation of death, the prosecution latching onto Sanda and Samuel’s turbulent personal lives. While Triet incorporates elements of a murder mystery, the narrative transcends the confines of a whodunit game, delving into the complexities of gendered resentments and marital discord. Motives for both suicide and murder stem from long-held grievances, such as Samuel’s perceived neglect of Daniel, which  led Daniel to losing the majority of his eyesight, or Sandra’s appropriation of Samuel’s ideas for her literary success.

I’ll argue that the film could have done with being twenty minutes shorter, there are several lengthy scenes that had they been cut down might have made some of the court proceedings less heavy on the brain,  but the script and strong performances sustain your attention for the most part. Particularly Swann Arlaud’s charismatic portrayal of Sandra’s lawyer and without a doubt the greatest performance from an animal actor ever in Daniel’s dog Snoop, played by the wonderful Messi. 

Anatomy Of A Fall navigates familial drama and marital tension with gripping precision, offering a profound exploration of human relationships and the wounds inflicted in moments of vulnerability. I don’t think she did it…