‘Anatomy of a Fall’ is a smart, gripping courtroom thriller. It is one of those films that makes you want to go to a darkened theater and get lost in the story. The film won the prestigious Palm D’Or at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival and is nominated for a Best Picture Academy Award. One of the strengths of this fascinating drama is the exceptional performance by the German actress Sandra Huller. She also stars in another foreign film nominated for a Best Picture titled ‘The Zone of Interest.’ I like this actress because she delivers a fearless performance. She doesn’t care whether you like her character or not. She plays a strong woman with faults. Don’t we all have flaws? This is a film that should not be missed.
Sandra Voyter (Sandra Huller) is a novelist placed on trial after her husband, Samuel (Samuel Theis) is found dead in the snow of their chalet in the French Alps. He is found by their visually impaired son Daniel (Milo Machado Graner) and his dog, a Border Collie named Snoop. Sandra’s lawyer friend, Vincent (Swann Arlaud), analyzes the trajectory. Samuel fell out of the attic window to his death. The investigation centers around two conclusions: murder or suicide. If you’ve watched any true crime documentaries, you will be familiar with the procedures used to find the truth. This film has some interesting twists and turns that do not make it easy to find out the whole truth.
Prior to the death of Samuel, Sandra is interviewed by a graduate student named Zoe about her novels. In the background, there is an instrumental version of 50 Cent’s “P.I.M.P.” Her husband likes to listen to loud music while he is working. It is so loud it becomes unsettling. The interview ends early, and Zoe leaves the chalet. After the police investigate Samuel’s death, they suspect foul play and indict Sandra for the murder of her husband. The trial is never boring. American audiences will see differences in how the French courts conduct a trial. They lean more toward witness testimony and perspective. It’s not about the truth but more about a marriage in crisis. Sandra is a successful novelist whereas Samuel was not happy with his teaching career.
Was Samuel jealous of Sandra’s success? There is a telling flashback of the two of them arguing that reveals so much about the fate of Samuel. Director Justine Triet doesn’t give us all the answers. She respects the audience too much. She lets us develop our own conclusions. There is a verdict at the end of the movie. ‘Anatomy of a Fall’ is not really a whodunnit. It’s more of an analysis of a marriage. That’s the fascinating part of the film. We get to know Sandra and get to know Samuel in revealing flashbacks. Her son Daniel also testifies. Are his memories true or fabricated? It certainly makes the courtroom drama riveting.
‘Anatomy of a Fall’ is a fascinating look at marriage. What is the truth? We hear the testimony and hear Sandra’s side of the story. The film could have easily been titled, The Anatomy of Cool. She is so pragmatic. Remember, she is a German living in France. On the other hand, Samuel is not there to defend himself so it is difficult to determine who is actually telling the truth. Ultimately, marriage will always have its mysteries behind closed doors. ‘Anatomy of a Fall’ is a must-see film.
