Time: 152 Minutes
Age Rating: M – Offensive language, suicide references & content that may disturb
Cast:
Sandra Hüller as Sandra Voyter
Swann Arlaud as Vincent Renzi
Milo Machado-Graner as Daniel Maleski
Antoine Reinartz as the prosecutor
Samuel Theis as Samuel Maleski
Jehnny Beth as Marge Berger
Saadia Bentaieb as Nour
Camille Rutherford as Zoé Solidor
Anne Rotger as the President
Sophie Fillières as Monica
Director: Justine Triet

I have been catching up on the best movies of the year, and I had been hearing that Anatomy of a Fall was one of them. I went into it only knowing that it was a French courtroom drama, and having seen it, I now think it’s among the best movies of the year.

This movie is expertly crafted and brilliantly written. While much of it is a courtroom procedural, I am a big fan of those kinds of movies, and it’s really well done. It is meticulously plotted and presented; the story delicately unfolds at a steady and patient pace, and I found it very compelling, engaging and enthralling to watch. The dialogue is particularly excellent throughout, but especially in the courtroom scenes. It is also very thought provoking, with a big emphasis on ambiguity, which worked to the film’s favour. The movie is 2.5 hours long, you definitely feel the length and perhaps it is a little too long, but it makes great use of the runtime.

Sandra Hüller is really great and makes for a compelling and riveting lead as a woman who is on trial for the death of her husband, suspected of murder. She conveys such a range of emotions and is very convincing as her layered and complex character. Other actors are really good in their parts, including Swann Arlaud as Hüller’s friend and lawyer, and Antoine Reinartz as the prosecutor. However, the standout might be Milo Machado-Graner, who plays the blind son and the only other witness. He has a considerable part in this movie, and deserves a lot of praise for his work here.

Justine Triet directed this incredibly well. For a procedural courtroom drama, it’s very strong on a technical level, including the cinematography, editing and the sound. 

Anatomy of a Fall is a riveting, ambiguous, and compelling courtroom drama, excellently scripted, strongly directed, and with amazing performances. It’s one of the best films of 2023, and is well worth watching.