Sharanya Kumar
Anatomy of a Fall explores Sandra and Samuel's tumultuous relationship through courtroom dissection, challenging traditional gender roles and raising uncomfortable questions about justification and credibility.
Set against the French Alps, the film showcases Sandra Hüller's genius in portraying Sandra, a non-traditional female figure. Hüller's transparent opacity adds depth to a character facing public scrutiny, challenging societal expectations.
As the murder investigation unfolds, Anatomy of a Fall transitions from a murder mystery to a courtroom drama, defying conventional thriller expectations. The film challenges the audience to root for an assertive, unconventional protagonist, exploring biases around gender.
Director Justine Triet exhibits mastery in sound and silence, using them to convey tension and violence subtly. The film's pace fluctuates, unraveling mysteries in the mountains and tightening up during courtroom sequences.
Anatomy of a Fall explores the messy nature of truth, highlighting the malleability of facts and the dependence on perspective. The film skillfully intertwines reality, fiction, and fantasy, leaving the audience questioning moral judgments and speculations.
Sandra's borrowing from her own life adds complexity, with the film offering two co-existing realities: Sandra is innocent, Sandra is guilty. The court decides, but the film refuses a neat ending, leaving the truth open to interpretation.