Anatomy of a Fall

Anatomy of a Fall is this year’s Palme d’Or winner, and, for some, that would be enough of a reason to go and see it. If you’re not convinced by that alone or, perhaps, you are put off by a two-and-a-half-hour French courtroom drama, let me disabuse you of any notions that this will be boring or pretentious or anything but one of the most exhilarating films of the year. From the film’s titular fall until its final moment, there is no security and no certainty about where Anatomy will go next, dissecting the incident from every angle. At once, it’s like watching a celebrity trial unfold over social media, and it’s also like being placed in the heart of a family rendered shattered and ruined. Every detail, however small, comes back to haunt or save the people, and dog, who we observe with bated breath across the proceedings. Justine Triet is a phenomenal director who deserves to be on everyone’s radar – she imbues this film with so much excitement and tension, humanity, and humour; Anatomy is worth all the attention it gets.

Daniel Kallin