POPZ-CULTURE Movie Reviews – Anatomy of a fall (2023)

Genre: Drama, thriller, crime

Age limit: 16

Directed by: Justine Triet

Written by: Justine Triet, Arthur Harari

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

September was not a particularly exciting month for premieres. That’s why we’ve been looking for films to recommend among recent releases. Our pick from this year’s Oscars is the winner of the Best Original Screenplay award. Although Past lives was a strong contender in this category, Anatomy of a Fall has received well-deserved professional recognition.

Sandra (Sandra Hüller) and Samuel (Samuel Theis) are a couple who live in the Alps with their visually impaired son. While Sandra is being interviewed by her student, Sam listens to music so loudly in the attic that they have to postpone the meeting. Shortly afterwards, Daniel returns from a walk with his dog and finds his father dead. As the autopsy does not clearly rule out foul play, Sandra is put on the dock. In addition to the uncertainty of her son’s testimony, the investigation is hampered by language barrier.

Anatomy of a Fall revives the finest traditions of courtroom drama. It is reminiscent of classics such as Witness for the Prosecution (1957), To kill a mockingbird (1962) or Kramer vs. Kramer (1979). This is a work of restrained visuality, based on acting and dialogue. The detective story, typical of the crime genre, is certainly present, but the characters’ personal stories are given much more time. The characters are highly authentic, well-written and complex. The dialogue is also very realistic. We slowly get to know the background of the case. The subtle dosage of dramatic tension and the portrayal of relational dynamics are the result of exemplary writing, directing and acting. The film presents a vivid picture of the nature of jurisdiction, in which, especially for the person offering legal defence, the truth is as much a variable in the formula as the memories and objective evidence that contradict or even support it, but are heavily distorted by subjectivity.

Unfortunately, despite the many positives, we are sure that the length of the film will put many people off. With its 150 minutes, it’s not an after-work, weekday evening, light-hearted entertainment. It is a film that takes time to watch, and it may not be as enjoyable to see in multiple parts. It’s long, but we have no idea where we should have cut it. We highly recommend it to you.

Have you seen the film? What did you think of it? Let us know in the comments. If you enjoyed our article, give it a like and share it with others. Follow our posts as we’ll be back soon with one of the most anticipated cinema premieres of the year. And if you’re in the mood for a tasty movie-watching snack, POPZ popcorn is the best choice.