Review – “Melancholia”

Words by Sam Moore

“Melancholia” is a film that I went into with a great sense of curiosity, as it seems to have been one of the most divisive films of the season. Needless to say I wasn’t disappointed.

It tells the story of Justine (played by Kirsten Dunst), a woman who fights a losing battle with depression as the eponymous planet moves on a collision course towards Earth.

Dunst’s performance is arguably the film’s strongest part of the film, as she brings several dimensions to a woman on the edge, eventually falling victim to her crippling condition. The cast features several other standout performances from Charlotte Gainsbourgh as Justine’s sister, Claire, and Kiefer Sutherland as Claire’s husband, John.

From the stunningly crafted opening, accompanied by Trier’s application of Wagner’s “Tristan und Isolde”, to the final frames, it is clear that is film is stunningly beautiful. Everything from the exquisite setting of Justine’s wedding to the planet Melancholia itself, everything is created wonderfully.

Although it is clear that Melancholia the planet is perhaps the chief element of the story, Von Trier allows it to take a back seat, and instead focuses on his characters and their relationships with each other. This allows the whole cast to come centre stage and truly deliver one of the best performances from an ensemble that I’ve seen all season.

The apocalypse is becoming rather a popular topic in films recently, as it was also covered in movies like “Take Shelter”, among several others, but it’s clear that no one handles the situation like Von Trier, who creates a very human drama about exactly what people do, and how they react to their last days on earth.

My only problem with this movie doesn’t actually come from “Melancholia” itself, but rather from Lars’ (admittedly I found it all to be comedic and incredibly funny) Nazi joke/scandal at Cannes, as it seems to have overshadowed the film.

Well acted, stunningly crafted, and achingly human, “Melancholia” makes the apocalypse personal, and therefore all the more powerful.

Rating: 5/5