Anatomy of a Fall is a legal drama by French director Justine Triet. The film which has received much critical acclaim during the award season with 5 nominations and one Oscar win has somewhat become the talk of the town for its ending. Apart from the brilliant Messi the dog, the film is led by Sandra Hüller, Swann Arlaud, Samuel Theis, Milo Machado Graner, and more. Before its fame during the Oscar season, it also won the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival.
The film begins with Sandra's interview with a female student reporter at home, who looks like she'd be more comfortable at a cafe. While Sandra drinking wine in the middle of the day and asking some flirty questions may have caused some discomfort what tips it over is Samuel's loud music upstairs. After the reporter walks out of the house and Sandra returns to her room leaving Samuel to allegedly work alone, only an hour later he is found dead at the bottom of their home to be discovered by their blind son and his service dog.
The mysterious death remains at the center of the courtroom drama with the soul witness being Daniel, the blind son. What makes the film interesting to watch is that it does not come with the catharsis a courtroom drama would bring. The usual drama would uncover the truth through different testimonies and finally place the guilt on the killer, but here Sandra after a year of going back and forth to the court is acquitted of the charges, what's worse she doesn't seem happy at the end.
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As the case is being uncovered by the cops and Sandra's defense it becomes clear that she has to claim that Samuel died by suicide. If not, the bizarre indications of the death, more like the mystery behind it leave her as the prime suspect, the only one who was in the house. The married couple was not on the best terms, only hours before the death and again minutes before the death they had fought.
Sandra also lies to the cops when first giving statements which is later uncovered with more evidence. As much as Sandra's testimony is not to be trusted so is her son Daniel's soul witness of the crime, or the alleged crime. Several other reasons make this film worthy of its Oscar nominations and the win for Original screenplay, including the number of questions it leaves the audience with.
Celebrating first-time #Oscar winners Justine Triet and Arthur Harari as ANATOMY OF A FALL wins the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay. pic.twitter.com/FDviqdxDJ9 — TIFF (@TIFF_NET) March 10, 2024
The case explores several theories of the death but none fully accounts for both the blood splatter and the body falling where it did. Meanwhile, the autopsy suggests he was likely struck with a weapon before he fell. However, as Sandra's defence reveals it won't be possible for Sandra to hit him and then lift and push him over the edge for him to fall in the same place.
Daniel's changing testimonies cannot be trusted either, as suggested by the prosecutor but his word is finally what decides the truth of the case. At the end, of the trial, it is still unclear how Samuel died. Throughout the case, Daniel continues to come up with solutions and memories that match with his mother's testimony, while the whole case continues to role against her. With final testimony recalling his father's word of caution about death is finally what gets cleared in the eyes of the law.
You would assume it would lead to relief for Sandra, but instead, her reaction comes with grief, which leads to more questions. Either Sandra did kill Samuel and now she has to live with a lie that Daniel told her, or she is truly grieved and now has to find a way to deal with Samuel's mysterious death with Daniel. Either way, her woes will continue despite her being now an innocent woman, without any reward for having gone through the tedious trial.
justine triet with her awards for anatomy of a fall, la boucle est bouclée pic.twitter.com/TuyTa859Tg — ines (@inesabelle) March 11, 2024
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Finally, one question remains, without finding out the truth about Samuel's death, the film still makes you wonder if Samuel wanted his successful author wife to suffer after his death. As Sandra suggested he may have provoked the fight and left the incriminating audio file of their fight so easily accessible for the cops after his suicide.
During an interview with TheWrap, director Triet opened up about the ending and its ambiguity. She said, "It’s the same thing as in life. Who knows the real truth? To me, I think maybe that Sandra could be not guilty of murder but responsible for pushing him to commit suicide. Maybe? It’s a question of: What are we all responsible for in our lives?"
The Wrap quoted her saying, "The film is opening so many other doors. And in a way, I think, well, she lied two times in the movie. So maybe we can cast doubt on her and say, “Hmm, is it possible she did do it?” But I don’t want to say that."
Anatomy of a Fall (2023) dir. Justine Triet pic.twitter.com/gBBsjEU3li — cinesthetic. (@TheCinesthetic) March 11, 2024
Cover artwork by Patrick Gawande/Mashable India
