A Review: The Melancholy of Melancholia
Melancholia is Lars von Trier’s 2011 sci-fi end-of-the-world psychological drama. It stars: Kristen Dunst, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Alexander Skarsgård, Cameron Spurr, and Kiefer Sutherland. It’s von Trier’s second installment in his unofficial “Depression Trilogy” Antichrist being the first and Nymphomaniacs being the third and final. After watching Melancholia you’ll question whether it was suppose to be about depression or give you depression. All joking aside von Trier’s Melancholia is a beautiful art-house type of movie, which is as stunningly visual as it is emotionally powerful and moving. To anyone that has experienced depression first hand and/or knows a loved one that has suffered from the disease knows how much of an affect it can have on everyone that person touches. This film does a great job of encapsulating the anger, confusion, pity, and irrational thinking that go along with depression.
The story revolves around two sisters, Justine played by Kristen Dunst and Claire played by Charlotte Gainsbourg. The film focuses on the sisters’ struggling relationship as a rogue planet is threatening to collide with the Earth and destroy it. Both actresses had amazing performances; Dunst’s got her the Best Actress Award at the 64th Cannes Film Festival. One of Lars von Trier’s inspirations for this film came from an episode of deep depression he suffered and the insight that people with depression tend to remain peaceful during catastrophic events. Which after watching the film can be seen very clearly but also is contradicted in a way, because in a way I feel that both Justine and Claire are suffering from a form of depression throughout this movie and one of them handles this impending dome much more peacefully than the other.
What makes Melancholia so powerful is the feelings that consume you throughout the film and once its over. I don’t think I will be finding myself watching this movie again anytime soon but that doesn’t make it any less of a fantastic film. It does what movies are suppose to, which is make you feel a certain emotion towards the characters you are watching and no movie that I have seen in recent memory has filled me with as much raw emotion as this. It is awfully hard to describe and I’m sure it will be different for everyone that watches, but it is as if you are a part of Justine and Claire’s family watching helplessly with equal parts anger and sadness coursing through your body.
Not only does this film capture your emotions, it holds you with its gorgeous cinematograph. Manuel Alberto Claro, the cinematographer, and Lars von Trier work together to create the perfect tone for this movie. The cool color palate works flawlessly to portray the constant feeling depression holds over the characters. The opening scene alone is a work of art. Everything works in that scene, from the amazing lighting, to beautiful vista that was to chosen as the setting; even the music is used with great attention to detail, never losing that feeling of constant depression.
As hesitating as I maybe to watch this film again, Melancholia is no doubt one that must be seen if you are a fan of film, suffer from, or no someone that suffers from depression. Because if there is anything that one can take from this film it is that no one is alone when he or she is suffering from depression and it most certainly doesn’t just affect them.
