Anatomy of a Fall

This was a beautiful film. I think I may be desensitized enough to have taken that film at more face value, so take this review with a grain of salt.

A mountain chalet near Grenoble becomes the backdrop for a legal saga involving the death of Samuel Maleski. Initially deemed accidental, suspicions arise due to conflicting accounts and evidence. The trial unveils a turbulent marriage, with Sandra Voyter accused of intentional harm amid allegations of plagiarism and infidelity. Daniel, the visually impaired son, crucially recalls details aligning with Sandra's testimony. The narrative explores themes of truth, perception, and hidden struggles, culminating in a poignant moment as Daniel grapples with the possibility of either parent's involvement, shedding light on Samuel's own struggles.

I think in foreign films, you can see a lot of technicality in shooting and editing that do not align with American films, but the naturalistic performance of the actors in this movie surpass authenticity. Sure, not being too familiar with the people on screen adds to that, but this family and these struggles felt beyond real. I found myself being critical of framing and editing that did not align with my own taste, but frequently summoned back into the plot because of the turns of the story and how the characters were bringing them to light. I think this film plays into grief unlike anything I have ever seen before on screen. Of course, criminal investigation has been captured on camera thousands of times. I feel it has developed into its own genre with it’s own tropes and storytelling devices. That being said, this film did not fit into it. The portrait of this mans death was painted by so many people. Lawyers, jurors, criminal investigators— but then through the eyes of a grieving wife and son, we see this man’s death and feel the shock. To replay the different scenarios of how his life ended over and over, and to watch how the legality of his death took so much precedence over how his family expressed their grief. Again and again they had to witness what they weren't present for and speculate its accuracy.

In the end of the film, we hear the son’s final testimony. He has hit his limit, and expresses how he understands one possibility and not the other. Not a statement of true or false, but an account of who his parents are and were. What feels probable and true is all the matters because it his his grief to carry.

Ratings:

Acting: 9.9/10

Filming/Lighting: 8.5/10

Editing: 6.7/10

Overall Movie: 9.2/10

I hope I didn’t spoil too much. Please watch it. It’s amazing.