We discovered it in The Battle of Solferinofollowed on La Croisette through its Victoria And Sybil. But the French filmmaker Justine Triet had never produced such a strong and breathtaking work asAnatomy of a fall. Among the films of female directors in competition this year, it is the first that makes people say: “Hey! Here is one that deserves to be on the list, at the Palme, in the direction, in the screenplay, as well as in the female interpretation for the German Sandra Hüller, star of the hour. “Something, anyway…
Hüller left festival-goers an unforgettable memory in 2018 with his caustic performance in comedy Toni Erdman by Marin Ade. In the 2023 vintage, she stars in another great racing film The Zone of Interest. As the wife of Rudolf Höss, commander of the Auschwitz camp, she also deserves to be awarded a prize… In one register or another, this actress sparkles with talent and finesse. She inherits complex roles brilliantly defended. We wish him to leave Cannes with a crown.
Anatomy of a fall, a high-flying puzzle, dissects the lives of a couple during the murder trial of a writer. The husband fell from the second floor of their house lost in the middle of the Alps. suicide? Assassination? Their visually impaired young boy discovered the bloodied body of the father. But what is he really thinking?
She is a famous author, her professor husband was struggling to give birth to his first novel. The ball of egos, jealousy, sexual frustration, guilt fueled their disputes. In front of the Court, in the presence of the child, the dirty marital laundry is spread out. Lawyers compete in eloquence to show off the dubious underwear of Mr. and Mrs. Justine Triet co-wrote this Machiavellian scenario with her companion Arthur Harari, which constantly leads the viewer astray. Should we doubt the female character, trust her, condemn her in advance?
Casually, the debacle of a couple steeped in cruelty, instability, fragility imposes itself as the central theme of the film, while the omniscient child ties and unties threads. In this mechanics of perverse ingenuity, through this hectic achievement, the enigmatic heroine, through the imperceptible nuances of Sandra Hüller, reveals herself and slips away. As for the filmmaker Justine Triet, she is finally establishing herself as a great filmmaker.
Death to the king!
The monarchy is doing a lot this season. Not just at the coronation of Charles III. Cinema is also involved. Maïwenn had left the Cannes ball with a film located in Versailles. As for the Brazilian Karim Aïnouz, new to the Cannes competition, he revives with fire brand (The Queen’s Game) Henry VIII, this Blue Beard of the British crown. His women died after use, executed or not. Played by aged Jude Law, the monarch, diminished by a purulent-infected leg, lives his last year with his ultimate wife Catherine Carr (Alicia Vikander, Oscar winner for her performance in danish girl).
This quality period production, set in the London Court of the 16e century, would not go down in history had it not been for her astonishing feminist perspective. Written by sisters Henrietta and Jessica Hashworth, the film transforms the young queen into a principled and courageous conspirator. Behold the wives of Henry XVIII avenged by his hand! The king’s daughters, terrified under his yoke, are terrified together. Tweaking history can be a liberating act. We smiled at this one.
Odile Tremblay is the guest of the Cannes Film Festival.