FALL FROM GRACE: A MARITAL MELODRAMA

In the intricate dance of marriage, understanding requires immersion, yet even within the union of accomplished German author Sandra (the phenomenal Sandra Hüller) and her French aspirant writer husband Samuel (Samuel Theis), communication feels like linguistic dissonance. Justine Triet’s Cannes Palme d’Or-winning courtroom drama, "Anatomy of a Fall," meticulously dissects this tension-laden marriage.

The conflict escalates beyond the confines of their alpine chalet when Samuel's mysterious death, possibly a fall, is discovered by their visually impaired 11-year-old son, Daniel (Milo Machado Graner, delivering a terrific, conflicted performance). Sandra finds herself on trial, with Daniel as a key witness. The prosecution, led by a tenacious lawyer (Antoine Reinartz), exposes the flaws in Sandra and Samuel's relationship as evidence of guilt.

While courtroom dramas hinge on screenplay strength, "Anatomy of a Fall" falters by dedicating the first hour to setup, resulting in a slow and uneventful pace. The film misses a crucial opportunity to explore the narrative through the perspective of the blind child, using his blindness as a metaphor for the justice system's own blindness—an element that could have added profound depth.

Regrettably, the film only employs narration at the end as a final twist, a move that feels like a squandered opportunity. Despite an unexpected ending, it fails to compensate for the film's sluggish first half.

In essence, "Anatomy of a Fall" is a cinematic swing-and-a-miss. While it had the potential to be a thought-provoking exploration of justice and blindness, it falls short of delivering a compelling narrative. The unexpected twist at the end does little to remedy the missed opportunity to fully engage the story from the blind child's perspective.