Anatomy Of A Fall – REVIEW

Moviegoers who enjoy courtroom drama thrillers should not be disappointed in this French cinematic offering which justifiably won the Palme d’Or at this year’s  Cannes Film Festival.

When Samuel Maleski falls to his death from the third floor of his chalet in the Alps region of Southeastern France, law-enforcers investigate the death. Was it an accident, suicide, or murder?

His partially blind son Daniel was walking his dog and Samuel was home alone with his wife Sandra – did she perhaps push him? The autopsy is inconclusive – her lawyer announces that an accidental fall is going to be difficult to defend. It’s treated as a suspicious death.

Is she innocent or guilty?

It comes to light that their marriage was not perfect. The marriage is put under a microscope, so much so that the movie could aptly be retitled ‘Anatomy of a Marriage’. The question which stuns police is why the husband recorded a fierce argument they had a day prior to his death – was it evidence that perhaps his wife may have been implicated in the event of his being involved in a tragic ‘accident’?

Her son seems to shed more tears at the death of his father which may possibly be a red flag. Instead of comforting him during a distressful moment she whispers, “I just want you to know one thing – I am not a monster…I am innocent, you know that right?”

This is an emotional and somewhat haunting whodunnit that should keep armchair detectives glued to their seats until the verdict is announced in the very last moment. Award winning German actress Sandra Huller delivers a powerful performance as Sandra Voyter, the novelist who desperately tries to prove her innocence in a court of law.

Audiences will be divided. One moment Sandra seems to be innocent and the next suspicion may arise that perhaps she did contribute to her husband’s death, pushing him out of an open window during a ferocious argument.

Samuel Theis and Milo Machado Graner portray the husband and son respectively and Swann Arlaud is a standout in the role as the lawyer.

Anatomy of a Fall is mostly spoken in English with occasional dialogue in French and at a running time of 2.5 hours it is admittedly exhausting viewing, but it’s so intense with impeccable performances that restlessness should not filter through.

★★★★

In Cinemas January 25