Anatomy of a Fall (2023) movie review

A man died and had a fall. He was alone in the house with his wife. How could he have died? The three possibilities are – accident, suicide or murder by his wife. That is the case being investigated in Anatomy of a Fall, a French courtroom drama directed by Justine Triet and co-written with her partner Arthur Harari. The movie, however, goes beyond solving a mystery into exploring several themes astutely and remarkably and is one of the finest films of 2023 and courtroom dramas ever.

Sandra (played by Sandra Huller) lives in an isolated cabin on a mountain near Grenoble with her husband Samuel (Samuel Theis) and their 11-year-old visually impaired, piano-playing son Daniel (Milo Machado Graner). Both are writers but only Sandra is a published author whereas Samuel struggles to find the drive, motivation and time to write. The movie opens with Sandra being interviewed by a student from a University in Grenoble while Samuel is working upstairs to re-model the attic and turn it into a B&B. Samuel starts playing the instrumental version of 50 Cent’s P.I.M.P. loud enough that the interview can no longer be continued. Resentment in their relationship goes both ways though as Sandra, a German, has moved to a remote town in France where her husband grew up to raise their family. She has adapted to the French language as well, but struggles with it, which later becomes a hindrance for her in the court.

When Samuel is found dead by Daniel, the suspicion naturally falls on Sandra. Sandra now has to prove that she’s innocent which is especially difficult given the fact that there’s no one around to corroborate her story. That responsibility is shared by her lawyer and longtime friend, Vincent Renzi (Swann Arlaud) who clarifies that the job at hand is not to discover the truth but to prove her innocence. The stark reality of how huge that task turns out to be is crystal clear when we see their formidable opponent, the prosecutor (Antoine Reinartz), in action.

Even with a 2-hour 32-minute runtime, you can’t take your eyes off the screen. There is so much going on here, on an emotional level, which is rare in a courtroom drama. The movie achieves more than most courtroom dramas as the camera peers into Sandra’s face, trying to read her mind, her soul. The French judicial system is different from the American one as criminal cases are overseen by judges and jurors. The proceedings are all the more impassioned as the defendant is allowed to speak along with her lawyers to defend herself which she does for almost half the movie. She is fighting for her life and family as she runs the risk of losing both if convicted. Sandra Huller is so mesmerising in this movie that her strong face and persona will stay with you days after watching the movie. Her character is trying to balance between containing her emotions and explaining her side of the story in court while also worrying about the impact listening to the couple’s inner secrets and truths will have on her growing boy.

All the performances in the movie are without fault. The two lawyers, the only ones allowed to be dramatic given their jobs, elevate the drama at the right moments as per the script. The script, which is wonderful by the way, reveals bits of information, not in a manipulative way, but is quite objective and methodical in unravelling the mystery. But the emotional essence of the movie along with Sandra however, is Daniel. This is a monumental role which if had not cast the right actor, could have broken the movie. But, Milo not only stepped up to the challenge but rose above it. In one key scene, Daniel is called into the court as a witness and is being questioned by both the lawyers on either side of the floor while he is at the centre of the podium. The camera moves along with Daniel as he shifts his attention to the speaker each time they address him. Here, the character and the actor become one, as they share their keen focus on being present with the adults in the room and answer their questions as intelligently, earnestly and devoid of sentimentality as best they can.

The movie looks equally beautiful during the court proceedings as it does in the snowy landscapes and the camera is always placed or being moved, with purpose. Anatomy of a Fall is not a mystery alone but an examination of a marriage in the gifted Justine Triet’s directorial effort.