☆ ☆ ☆ ☆
Anatomy of a Fall (2023) – J. Triet
Having just watched Anatomy of a Murder (1959) with my
Dad, I can definitely see the family resemblance with Justine Triet’s Oscar-winning
Anatomy of a Fall. Both films
deconstruct a central death with exacting forensic/clinical investigations
leading to high-profile court cases with fallible defendants (Ben Gazzara in
the older film, Sandra Hüller in the newer one). They differ in the way that Otto Preminger
focused more on Jimmy Stewart’s lawyer, whereas Triet honed in on the relationship
between Hüller’s Sandra Voyter and her blind son Daniel (Milo Machado-Graner)
who is the sole witness able to tell the court whether his father was killed by
his mother. Court cases in France do not
seem to follow the same rules as those in America, with the defendant (as well
as the defense team) freely interjecting (and/or being asked to comment) while
the prosecutor questions witnesses. Evidence mounts and seemingly supports a
strong case against the defendant – or does it? Hüller, who was so good in Toni
Erdmann (2016), is fascinating here, ably allowing us to doubt her while
remaining hopeful that she didn’t do it.
Absorbing throughout. It won the Palme d’Or at Cannes.
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