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In the cerebral thriller Anatomy of a Fall by Justine Triet, the tragedy occurs suddenly and without any warning. The family in the Alps is going about their usual routine, focused on their work and home improvements. The child takes a walk with the dog in the fresh snow. Upon returning home, a small indication of something amiss arises as the dog becomes agitated and begins to whine. The source of the disturbance becomes clear as a man’s body is seen lying on the snow, with dark red blood surrounding his head. Panic and confusion ensue, along with the inevitable question: was this a case of foul play?
During the incident, the only other individual present in the household was the victim’s wife, renowned author Sandra Voyter, who is portrayed skillfully by Sandra Hüller (known for her role as Toni Erdmann’s frazzled consultant). As the investigation unfolds and discrepancies are uncovered, Sandra transitions from a witness to a prime suspect. Despite maintaining her innocence, she becomes the subject of a tense and unemotional courtroom drama, where the couple’s long-standing resentments and secrets are revealed in the pursuit of justice, and also become a source of public fascination. The prosecutor takes pleasure in reading a passage from one of Voyter’s novels in which the main character imagines her partner’s dead body. Sandra’s attorneys argue that fiction should not be equated with reality. However, they are aware that such arguments may seem insignificant when it is Sandra’s character that is on trial, rather than the alleged crime.
One of the most intriguing elements of the movie is its selective use of information. In a time where films often rely on flashbacks to depict a rosy past (perhaps reflecting the trend of exploring traumatic events), the director’s bold decision to keep Sandra’s husband Samuel mostly off-screen, as a ghost, stands out. The focus is on Sandra’s present, which is closely analyzed. Gender dynamics play a role in the trial, with lawyers bringing up Sandra’s bisexuality, past infidelity, and literary success in comparison to Samuel’s abandoned writing projects. An audio recording of the couple reveals Samuel’s reluctance to take on emotional labor and childcare in their marriage. This leads to one of the few non-glowy flashbacks in the film, taking us into the room where their conflict reaches its peak. Then, in the climactic moments, the curtains are drawn and we return to the courtroom, hearing the sounds of slaps, heavy breathing, and muffled noises, while seeing Sandra’s composed demeanor and the bustling crowd.
In recent years, the public has been captivated by true crime and courtroom drama, which offers the notion that crimes can be easily solved by identifying the perpetrator, motive, and murder weapon in a spectacular fashion. However, “Anatomy of a Fall” dispels this fantasy. For every psychoanalyst who claims the husband was filled with anger and resentment, there is a wife who remembers him as a frustrated man who also lived his life. And for every expert who believes the blood splatter points to murder, there is another who testifies that unequal bodyweight distributions suggest an accidental fall. Daniel, a child caught in the midst of a messy and unfortunate public scandal, is told by a friend that he must make a decision. While the truth may eventually come out, the only certain outcome is the destruction left behind.
Source: theguardian.com
