“Anatomy of a Fall”, a judicial thriller that overflows conventions and stereotypes

Trailer for “Anatomy of a Fall”, by Justine Triet

After winning the Palme d’Or at Cannes 2022 and obtaining two Golden Globes this year for best screenplay and best foreign language film, Anatomy of a Fall, by Justine Triet, is released. The film is a meticulous exploration of the deterioration of a relationship, where the cracks of a love story are revealed at the center of a disturbing trial. And her director became the third woman to win the biggest prize in the history of the Cannes Film Festival: not only a recognition of her work, but also of the forceful and captivating story that she captured.

You may be interested in: The film that was not selected by France for the Oscars and is up for 5 statuettes

The plot follows Sandra, a German writer who lives with her French husband, Samuel, and their 11-year-old son, Daniel, in a remote Alpine village. Peace crumbles when Samuel is found dead in the snow, and an investigation is triggered that points to Sandra as the main suspect. What begins as a police case transforms into a disturbing psychological journey, exploring the depths of the couple’s troubled relationship.

“Anatomy of a Fall” tells the story of a couple, a death and a trial that reveals other underlying issues

The opening scene shows Sandra trying to conduct an interview for her thesis, but is interrupted by Samuel’s loud music. From those first moments you can see the cracks in this family, which also faces serious economic difficulties due to an accident that left Daniel with irreversible damage to his optic nerve. Furthermore, he faces a creative block that does not allow him to develop as a writer: he has an insufficient salary as a teacher and tries to convert the chalet into a home to rent and to generate additional income.

You may be interested in: ‘With everyone except you’, ‘Anatomy of a fall’ and more, what comes to the cinema the week of January 25

When the tragic event occurs, the boy is the first person to find his father. The autopsy raises doubts between an accident or a murder, leading the police to suspect Sandra, the only person in the house apart from the deceased. This situation leads Sandra to hire Vincent Renzi, a lawyer and former friend of hers, to defend her in a trial that turns into a long legal battle.

Director Justine Triet with the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Festival (Photo: EFE/EPA/Guillaume Horcajuelo)

Justine Triet shared her approach to bringing this story to life: a technical exploration of physical and emotional deterioration, reflecting the decline of a relationship. She also wanted to portray the mother-son relationship in the midst of a trial that reveals hidden layers of the past. The film adopts a documentary approach and an unadorned narrative, where visual language and absences play a crucial role. The director chose to avoid flashbacks, focusing on the verbal and letting the sound become a ghostly presence in the middle of the process. She, in turn, lets the viewer decide in their own judgment about the characters: there are no good guys or bad guys. You have to decide who to believe and develop your own concept of truth, whether or not it is far from the final resolution.

You may be interested: With “Infinite Memory”, Maite Alberdi gets her second nomination for an Oscar

The choice of Sandra Hüller for the lead role was no coincidence: the German actress brings complexity and depth to her character without falling into simplifications. The authenticity and conviction that Hüller infuses into her performance leaves its mark on the film. Along with Hüller, other key actors such as Swann Arlaud, Milo Machado Graner and Samuel Theis contribute significantly to bringing this story to life. Meticulous casting focused on finding actors who could express the emotional layers and complexities of their roles.

German actress Sandra Hüller shines in “Anatomy of a Fall”

Triet’s cinematographic background, marked by previous works, The Battle of Solferino (2013) and The Cases of Victoria (2016), which question social and group dynamics, finds in Anatomy of a Fall a new milestone in his career. Since his earliest films, Triet has explored human interaction and conflict through social and psychological lenses.

According to the director, the film was born from the desire to capture the physical and emotional deterioration of a love relationship. The focus, from the beginning, was on the couple and their son, allowing the trial to reveal the fabric of their past and the child’s transformation from trust to doubt. The documentary style, without additional music and a raw tone, became the hallmark of this film, distancing itself from her previous works and giving it a particular authenticity. Triet immersed himself in the exploration of the couple’s relationship that challenges the traditional model, reversing the roles, a rare theme in contemporary cinema.

Milo Machado Graner surprises with his interpretation of Daniel, the couple’s son

The script, co-written by Triet and Arthur Harari, benefited from the valuable advice of a criminal lawyer to ensure the accuracy of the legal aspects, providing an authentic view of the trials in France and allowing for a different approach to American courtroom dramas. Furthermore, it was written with Sandra Hüller in mind, looking for a performance that would bring complexity to the main character. The film delves into the life of a couple who do not share the same language, adding layers of complexity to the negotiation between them.

The casting process for the protagonist’s son was extensive, until the necessary natural talent was found in Milo Machado Graner. Triet confesses that the choice of the cast, including Samuel Theis, and the use of different languages ​​adds specific weight to Hüller’s character. She also creates a distance between herself and the public as a foreigner judged in France.

In Anatomy of a Fall, Justine Triet explores human complexity through the lens of a courtroom drama, maintaining authenticity and sincerity as fundamental pillars of her narrative.

[Fotos: Diamond Films]