MELANCHOLIA (2011)

Written & Directed By: Lars Von Trier
Cinematography By: Manuel Alberto Claro
Editor: Morten Hojbjerg & Molly Marlene Stansgard

Cast: Kirsten Dunst, Charloette Rampling, Charloette Gainsbourg, Brady Corbet, John Hurt, Udo Kier, Alexander Skarsgard, Stellan Skarsgard


On the night of her wedding, Justine is struggling to be happy even though it should be the happiest day of her life. It was an extravagant wedding paid for by her sister and brother-in-law who are trying to keep the bride and all the guests in-line. Meanwhile, Melancholia, a blue planet, is hurtling towards the Earth. Claire, Justine's sister, is struggling to maintain composure with fear of the impending disaster.

This film is a meditation on the deep depression writer-director Lars Von Trier fell into and still falls into time to time as usual the controversial figure with his comments and at times unruly behavior. His demeanor and actions tend to overshadow his films. They also give his films great publicity and thankfully he is a actual talented filmmaker with original ideas. His films are usually worth a look and marvelous.

Lars Von Trier is a experimental filmmaker whose films are live wires with a definite pulse always different making them more, one of a kind and unpredictable.
The film suffers from a passive attitude through out where there should have been hysterics and maybe some melodrama. The film went a different way then most end of the world films. Making it’s own personal stamp. Though those hysterics might have made the film feel like it felt a bit faster.

Let me get this out first the film is long and moves at a slow pace. Like THE DEER HUNTER an hour into the film and we are still at a wedding.

The film takes place all on one location a spacious mansion that is on a sprawling golf course/Lodge.

I have not been a fan of Kirsten Dunst in the past. She does solid work in this film and is coming into her own as an actress. This is her strongest performance so far. The acting here is more physical and moody. It is also her first real nude scene. She is graduating to becoming a full fledged adult actress. Her performance from Delightfully happy to barely moveable depression is interesting and believable. Hard to believe she was a replacement for Penelope Cruz who I would have loved to see in this film. It ended up being a lucky stroke for Ms. Dunst.

In fact the film is based on a play called “The Maids” which Ms. Cruz suggested that he direct. Instead he loosely based the film on it.

The film has a 10 minute beginning of abstract visuals and scenes that are breathtaking to view. Like a preview of what we are about to witness but can’t fit into the narrative naturally like extra scenes or visuals he didn’t want to cut yet helped him come up with the film. So he wants to show his inspiration before the feature.

Not that it was intended but most of the protagonists of Von Trier’s work are women and have the female characters are the ones who seem to start out fragile yet show the most beauty and strength while the men start off strong yet are proved to be weak throughout the film. Reversing the usual rules of other films.

The film plays like a opera without the songs. Like a depressing musical without any musical numbers but plenty of symphony music. Musical numbers would have felt out of place, but made the proceedings have a rhythm.

I get the message of the planet of melancholia hiding behind the sun. Then making it’s presence felt. The opposite of bright and warm. Melancholia’s cold and big. It can’t be defeated or overcome, Can’t predict it’s movements and eventually it overcomes and swallows the planet/individual and anything else in it’s path. I get the symbolism, but I must say it’s not very subtle. It all but spelled out.
I can really identify with the film as I have suffered from the ailment not so much physically as mentally.

I must say watching a Von Trier film is always a experience. He is never predictable.
The supporting cast is excellent but I feel like since half are Regulars of Von Trier’s it feels like they are playing their usual roles, the new additions to the cast are surprising in the range they show but as usual are up for the challenge.
While I liked the film. I don’t think it’s great. It left me cold though, I doubt the film is anything but very personal. It’s beautifully shot and the scenery is great. It feels empty though it is wall to wall emotional more about what’s not being said then what’s not. It’s like Dunst’s character beautiful to look at but leaves you guessing as to what caused her depression. We get clues like a mystery but no direct answer. The film just lets it hang in the air. What she really feels or has to say. All we know is that her mother has mental problems and she grew up in a broken home. The movie leaves a few too many questions once it is over none of them can ever be answered to satisfaction.

I applaud Von Trier as I don’t feel the film is meant to show off any particular skills. I just believe that VonTrier seeks to bring the audience into the experience that the characters are going through. The themes he is working with is an expression of how he feels and the journey he wants to present that they must go through. Keep them off balance while experienced highs and lows but always keeping a foot in reality.

Von Trier uses technology and effects to a point to tell a story, but also uses his visual more experimental style. As a European filmmaker which most do he is clearly interested in telling a story but characters are what are more important to him. Characters and bringing an emotional truth to them. So that as we go along in the story. It doesn’t feel farcical or doesn’t hit a false note. He is a filmmaker who has always interested me more in style and technique. His challenging of himself and the audience fascinates me and the fact that even through all of that. His films are so good and emotional. I am glad this film leaves a lot to talk about and examine. It challenges you and you definitely will have an opinion after watching makes you question your taste Plus is on the forefront of cutting edge film technology. Not using it to make blockbusters but more dramatic stories with an emotional truth. I admire him his experimental style and ways that he works challenging himself and others. Pushing his actors to their limits to be the best they can be and always present

The film has beautiful cinematography

GRADE: B-