Anatomy Of A Fall (aka Anatomie d 'Une Chute) *****

STARRING : Sandra Huller, Swann Arlaud, Milo Machado-Graner, Antoine Reinartz, Samuel Theis, Jehnny Beth, Saadia Bentaieb, Camille Rutherford, Anne Rotger, Sophie Fillieres

DIRECTOR : Justine Triet

CERTIFICATION RATING CERTIFICATE : 15

DISTRIBUTION : Lionsgate Films, Picturehouse Entertainment, Les Films Pelleas, Les Films de Pierre, Le Pacte

The history of the ''PSYCHOLOGICAL THRILLER'' in movies is in fact - a genre that combines both the elements of the 'thriller' and also the 'psychological' fiction genres and that it is commonly used to describe literature or even films that deal with the aspects of many narratives in all kinds of settings.

But many different sources to this kind of genre - in question - can actually be related to the following - such as Wilkie Collins, a Victorian novelist, and who in the 1860's wrote 'four sensational novels', Fritz Lang, a German filmmaker, and was dubbed by the British Film Institute - 'BFI' - as 'the master of darkness', Sir Alfred Joseph Hitchcock, KBE, ( just for the record, 'KBE' - is in fact - an abbreviation for - 'KNIGHT OF THE ORDER OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE' - which in turn - is actually - a 'RANK OF A BRITISH ORDER OF CHIVALRY' - that also 'rewards many contributions' - to - 'THE ARTS', 'SCIENCES', 'CHARITY' and also 'PUBLIC SERVICES' - however, also the many people 'in all walks of life' who receive 'the honoured title' - can in fact - 'use the title of 'SIR' or even 'DAME' - before their first name - ie: Sir Elton John, KBE, and even Dame Judi Dench, DBE), and also is widely regarded by many as 'THE MASTER OF SUSPENSE' as well as 'THE ORIGINAL PIONEER OF SO MANY TECHNIQUES' and also Roman Polanski, a Polish-French film director, producer, writer and actor who has directed many acclaimed films including 'ROSEMARY'S BABY' featuring Mia Farrow, John Cassavetes and Ruth Gordon, 'CHINATOWN' featuring Jack Nicholson, Faye Dunaway, John Huston and also 'the legendary' Burt Young - who was also an author and painter as well as an actor - best known as Paulie Pennino in 'ROCKY' - which became a film franchise - in its own right - however Polanski has also been involved in several controversies, including his conviction for unlawful sex - with a 'minor' and also his fugitive status from the U.S. justice system - to name a few.

However 'ANATOMY OF A FALL' (aka 'ANATOMIE d'UNE CHUTE) is in fact classed as 'A FRENCH COURTROOM DRAMA EPIC THRILLER' - that won the prestigious 'Palme D'Or' award at the Cannes Film Festival back in 2023, and tells the story of Sandra Voyter, (Huller), a novelist, who at the beginning is involved in an interview and is halted by Samuel Maleski, (Theis), her husband who's playing loud music when the interviewer leaves and who also happens to be a former academic and also a would-be author himself and has now hit a career slump and also has a creative block at their remote chalet, which he is trying to fix it up and turn it into an Airbnb outside their unique driveway in Grenoble, that's originally situated in the French Alps - no this isn’t a film version of “Help We’ve Bought A Village” - a TV series shown on Channel Four - at around 'tea-time'.

Meanwhile, Daniel Maleski, (Machado-Graner), their son who is 'partially blind' goes out for a walk with Snoop, his guide-dog,- this turns out to be the result of an accident years earlier that Samuel in question was responsible for - putting Samuel in a depressive state to which he has never fully recovered from and when Daniel returns to the chalet with his guide-dog it is then that he finds Samuel dead in the driveway after the fall - and also 'the sole-key witness' - this puts Sandra in a tricky-situation and it is she who is under suspicion and charged with his murder.

An autospy reveals that Samuel in question had in fact that Samuel's head-wound was in fact inflicted before his body - 'hit the ground'.

However,Vincent Renzi, (Arlaud), who happens to be her lawyer, as well as her old friend, plans to claim that Samuel died by suicide, if she is indicted and despite not believing that Samuel killed himself, she tells Vincent about Samuel's attempt to overdose on aspirin before his death, but then Vincent notices a bruise on her arm that she claims to have sustained bumping into a countertop and who also tries to prove her innocence of the crime in question.

Then Daniel explains that his parents were in fact not fighting when Daniel left the chalet, but when a test sample of the music's volume reveals that Daniel could not have heard them talking from where he claims was where in fact he was situated - and therefore Daniel changes his story.

This combined with blood splattered on a shed below the attic window and also 'a unique recording' that Samuel in question had made of a fight that both Samuel and Sandra had 'the previous day' before Samuel 'passed away' - prompts an indictment.

Now the film in question then follows the trial a year later after the incident and where Sandra and her defense team tries to prove that Samuel's death was an accident, while the prosecution then argues that Sandra in question hit him with a blunt object and pushed him from the balcony.

The film also explores the troubled marriage between Sandra and Samuel but the film also reveals Sandra's many secrets in question - such as her affairs and also her plagiarism of Samuel's ideas - however the film is 'NOT BASED ON A TRUE STORY' as 'IT IS CLASSED AS A FICTIONAL FILM', for this is quite an epic thriller - just over 'two and a half hours' by exploring many themes such as guilt, memory and also identity.

Now Justine Triet, the film's director had in fact written the movie with Huller in mind as the protagonist after seeing her in 'TONI ERDMANN' - 2016 - a German comedy drama written, directed and also co-produced by Maren Ade, however in 'ANATOMY OF A FALL' ( aka 'ANATOMIE d'UNE CHUTE - ORIGINAL FRENCH TITLE), the plot and also the original characters in this - are in fact - 'NOT INSPIRED BY ANY REAL EVENTS OR EVEN PEOPLE' - and it is 'a product' of Triet's imagination and also creativity but there certainly many twists, turns and also shocks in this 'psychothriller' that'll not have you not only gripped by the edge of your cinema seat - it's also a very intriguing movie - and there are shades of 'WITNESS TO THE PROSECUTION' - 1957 - from director Billy Wilder and even 'MURDER ONE' from Steven Bocho - 'the creator of 'HILL STREET BLUES' - this is classed as 'an underrated, under-remembered 90's tv drama featuring Daniel Benzali, Anthony La Paglia and also Stanley Tucci -however this is a very 'HITCHCOCKIAN' movie that if the legendary great man was alive today 'known as 'the master of suspense' - he would have been very proud - with the finished cinematic product ever made in movie history.

When the movie opened in France on August 23, 2023, two months later after its world premiere was shown in Cannes on May 21, 2023, - the movie debuted at 2 at the French box office in its first week - it was behind 'BARBIE' and was ahead of 'OPPENHEIMER' - then by the second week it was still the *2 movie at the French box office - this time behind 'THE EQUALIZER 3' - aka 'E3' - and was also ahead of 'BARBIE' - and by the third week - the movie in question reached 'THE TOP OF THE SUMMIT MOUNTAIN BY SIMPLY BECOMING 'THE * 1 FILM AT THE FRENCH BOX OFFICE'.

As for the movie in question - well this is like a jigsaw puzzle of a festive/birthday treat of a gift that you would receive from a family member and that the box would consist of at least 'one thousand miniature pieces' - and that when 'you fit all the jigsaw pieces together as one image it - 'unlike the jigsaw pieces that are inside the box - in question' - the finished product of this film becomes - 'a very constructive thriller - and even though that its subtitled - which by the way - it is - but don't ever let 'the subtitles' put you off by watching this - for this has a 'great storyline', powerful performances by all concerned - plus cutting-edge superior editing and also stunning cinematography - for this is one of the best surprises of 2023 - and also one which I have ever experienced inside a movie theater.

This is an absolute gem - and also one of those that you simply have to see and also experience the thrill of watching a movie masterpiece inside a movie theater.

Don't Miss It !

David M.G Mitchell.