这篇文章是楼主一门写作课的结课作业，写得很用心不想让它尘封在档案袋里，所以贴到豆瓣来啦～
Unveiling the Dark Undercurrents of Postmodern Intimacy: Review of Anatomy of a Fall
“I have to pause the film multiple times, each time fighting the urge to vomit. As I watched Sandra and Samuel having the argument, blankly but attentively listening to every sentence they uttered, my stomach churned violently, making me feel as if it wasn’t just them being anatomized, but myself as well.” This is how one of my friends, who just experienced a brutal end of relationship, described to me her feelings when watching Anatomy of a Fall. Whether you have similar traumatic experiences like her, or your understanding of intimate relationship still lingers on romantic dramas, moralistic tales, and superficial family stories, I highly recommend you to get a ticket to Anatomy of a Fall, to gain an unpleasant insight into the dark side of postmodern intimacy.
Anatomy of a Fall is a French courtroom drama directed by Justine Triet, with a runtime of approximately 2 hours and 32 minutes. It intricately weaves the story of Sandra (Sandra Hüller), a writer, who becomes the prime suspect after her husband, Samuel (Samuel Theis), falls to his mysterious death from their attic. As a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding Samuel’s death is carried out, Sandra faces trial and the complexities of their marriage are gradually revealed.
The film has received numerous awards, including the Palme d'Or at the 76th Cannes Film Festival and the top prize at the 2024 Cesar Awards, France’s top film honors. It has also received praise from critics across the world. The famous newspaper, the New Yorker comments: “Anatomy of a Fall is formidable stuff, and you should arrange to watch it at the cinema with your most captious friends, preferably at six o’clock, so that you can thrash things out over dinner.” As for me, the most valuable aspect of this film lies in the director’s meticulously crafted narrative structure, character setting, and stylistic elements. The combination of these three elements creates a synergistic effect, making it possible for me deeply feel the profound theme the director perhaps aims to express—the dark side of long-term postmodern intimate relationships mentioned at the beginning.
Narrative Structure
In Anatomy of a Fall Triet chooses to employ a non-linear narrative structure, using flashbacks and shifting perspectives to gradually unveil the key moments in Sandra and Samuel’s relationship and the possible events leading up to Samuel’s death. Through such manipulation of the narrative, the truth of the fall is left elusive.
The film opens with the immediate aftermath of Samuel’s fall. Then the story oscillates between the present-day courtroom drama, where Sandra is on trial for Samuel’s murder, and various flashbacks that reveal the intricacies of their relationship. For instance, one flashback shows an intense argument between Sandra and Samuel in their living room, where they confront their frustrations and resentments. This scene highlights the volatility of their relationship and raises our questions about Sandra’s potential motive.
Additionally, the film employs shifting perspectives to deepen the narrative complexity. One key perspective is from their son, Danie. In one poignant flashback, Samuel confides in Daniel about his struggles with depression. Through his perspective, the layers to Samuel’s character are enriched and the narrative around his death is also made complicated. Besides, the courtroom scenes themselves are also presented through various perspectives: the prosecution, under which Sandra is guilty and mendacious; the defense, under which Sandra is innocent and humanized; the witnesses, which represents the perspectives of the audience and oscillates between the former two.
For example, in a scene where a recording of an argument between the couple is played, Samuel accuses Sandra of cheating on him twice with a woman. This accusation is explored from different perspectives in the courtroom. The prosecutor undermines Sandra’s character and fidelity, portraying her as deceitful and capable of murder. They argue that if Sandra could hide such a significant aspect of her life, she could also be hiding the truth about Samuel’s death. The defense, however, claims that Sandra’s sexual encounter reflects the couple’s strained relationship and Samuel's loss of sexual capacity after his negligence rendered their son permanently blind. They emphasize that this incident should not be seen as a motive for murder or a reflection of her capacity for violence.
And as we, the audience, follow the witness’s perspective, we find ourselves caught in a relentless cycle of conviction and doubt. Our minds struggle to form conclusions, only to see them shattered and rebuilt again. This emotional turmoil will immerse us deeply into the film’s central theme: the truth is never right or wrong but ambiguous; human connections are sometimes simple but often fraught with hidden tensions and unresolved conflicts. Through this gripping and disorienting journey in various flashbacks and perspectives, we are left with a haunting sense of the fragility of trust and the ever-present shadows that can loom over even the most enduring partnerships.
Character Setting
Besides narrative structure, the movie has also adopted a compelling character setting to portray the complexities of long-term intimate relationship. Traditionally, patriarchal societies position men as the dominant figures in societies and the masters in families, but in Anatomy of a Fall, the gender role and the power dynamic are reversed. In the film, the wife is the primary breadwinner, working as a successful writer, while the husband takes on the role of the primary caregiver for their child. Also, the characteristics exhibited by the two during their conflicts, as well as Sandra’s demeanor in court, both break traditional gender expectations: Sandra always discusses issues rationally and calmly, disregarding morality and the feelings of her husband, prioritizing her own interests over the couple’s common good. On the other hand, Samuel shows a greater need for emotional support and becomes hysterical when Sandra fails to meet his needs, willing to sacrifice more of himself for the sake of the family.
This gender role reversal serves to remind the audience that, even though the pre-existing male-dominated power relation in society is almost erased, the nature of intimate relationships itself dictates that a power struggle inevitably exists between the two individuals. An intimate relationship is not always about fascinating chemistry, reciprocal support, and transcendental experiences of love between two persons; it also involves very mundane battles for seizing and ceding power, the game of giving and receiving. And much like a real war, this power struggle always has victors and losers, if not perpetrators and victims. The harsh reality is that everyday conflicts are fundamental to the dynamics of a relationship, in which love and power are often inextricably linked, and the balance between them is delicate and fraught with tension.
Stylistic Elements
From the perspective of film production, in Anatomy of a Fall, Triet’s directorial style also masterfully underscores the fragility and complexity of Sandra and Samuel’s relationship. The film’s cinematography, led by Simon Beaufils, captures the stark beauty of the remote chalet setting, using natural light and composed shots to create an atmosphere of isolation and introspection, mirroring the couple’s emotional distance. Inside the claustrophobic interiors of the chalet, the camera lingers on close-ups and confined spaces, highlighting the suffocating nature of their relationship. The tight framing forces us to confront the uncomfortable proximity of their conflicts and the inescapable reality of their disintegrating bond. Every glance and gesture are captured in excruciating detail, revealing the unspoken resentments and unvoiced pleas for understanding that plague their interactions.
The sound design further amplifies the emotional weight of the film. The silence in the house is deafening, punctuated only by the sounds of their arguments or the creaking of the old chalet. This aural emptiness echoes the void in their relationship, the absence of warmth and genuine connection. When music does seep in, it’s often melancholic, heightening the sense of despair and loss that underpins their interactions.
By weaving together these stylistic elements, Triet not only immerses us in the palpable tension and profound sadness of Sandra and Samuel’s unraveling relationship but also invites us to reflect on our own intimate connections and the hidden struggles that may lie beneath the surface. This evocative portrayal leaves a lingering impact, a reminder of the delicate balance between love and despair, and the dark currents that can flow beneath even the most seemingly serene relationships.
The confluence of narrative structure, character setting, and stylistic elements in Anatomy of a Fall invites an introspective exploration of the audience: what has not been deconstructed yet in the myth of romantic love and supportive long-term intimacy in our postmodern societies? The film itself has offered a possible despairing answer. It reveals that beneath the surface of every relationship lies a tangled web of power struggles, unspoken grievances, and hidden darkness. Whether you’ve experienced the visceral pain of a brutal breakup or simply wish to gain a deeper understanding of the intricate dynamics at play in intimate bonds, this film offers a profoundly unsettling yet enlightening journey into the heart of human relationships.
Works Cited
Anthony Lane. “Anatomy of a Fall.” The New Yorker, 16 Oct. 2023, www.newyorker.com/magazine/the-current-cinema/10/16/anatomy-of-a-fall-movie-review. Accessed 5 June 2024.
