Cast: Kirsten Dunst, Charlotte Gainsbourg and John Hurt
DIrector: Lars Von Trier
Rating: 3.5/5
Not a science-fiction movie but an intense emotional Drama...
By Priyanka Ketkar
If a movie involves any natural or man-made calamity in it, it is a Science-fiction movie, right? Wrong. Lars Von Trier's Melancholia is one such example of a Science-fiction based movie but it concentrates more on the emotions and feelings than the calamity.
Lars Von Trier and controversy go hand in hand. He has an equal number of supporters and 'haters'. But this movie is such, that everyone will admire the maestro's skills of showing regular things in a unique yet spectacular way.
Melancholia... Right from the name of the movie to what is shown in it; everything shown in the movie symbolizes a greater purpose. A planet called "Melancholia" is about to crash on Earth, destroying life as we know it, forever. But Earth already has been hit with Melancholia...melancholia with respect to feelings and emotions. There is sadness, darkness and depression among many earthlings, what is different is their ways of dealing with it.
The movie has two parts clubbed in the two hours time. Two parts with two sisters- Justine (Kirsten Dunst) and Claire (Charlotte Gainsbourg) having a very strained relationship. It is Justine's wedding day and everything seems to be perfect. She is marrying her rich sweetheart, her sister & her husband John (Kiefer Sutherland) have arranged a big wedding party, everyone seems to be happy, yet something is amiss. Slowly as the evening progresses not just the guests, but Justine herself realizes that in spite of the outer happiness, she is dying inside...the girl is deeply depressed. The wedding crumbles to pieces and Justine slowly starts losing touch with her sane self. Part 2... Justine has come to stay at Claire's great mansion. Her health is slowly improving, from not being able to get out of the bed by herself; she can slowly go for even horse-riding on her own. But the doom is not yet over and this time it is not just Justine, but the entire world itself. Claire realizes that if Melancholia hits the earth, life will end, forever and nothing will matter anymore, neither her sister, nor their problems; but Claire doesn't want to die yet, she wants to live. John, an amateur scientist is sure that the planet won't hit the earth and this comes true on the "D DAY". Claire is ecstatic and is all set to celebrate. But suddenly things again start to spiral out of control. Suddenly Claire becomes more vulnerable and Justine becomes the responsible one in the family.
The movie deals with depression throughout but also shows the different ways in which people tackle it. Justine, who has just been out of depression, sees this impending dread as nothing but a mere end of something that is destined to end someday. She has grown, learnt and understood that life is rare and one has to die some day or another. Claire, on the other hand, is unable to deal with this and wants to hide somewhere with her family so as to stay alive. Claire's son Leo (Cameron Spurr) thinks his Aunt Justine can save them by building a steel cave. What more can a kid imagine to be safe from a world-ending danger. John, who is initially so confident about Melancholia not hitting the earth, starts thinking of his failure. This, mixed with depression has devastating effects on him. His reaction will make you go speechless.
Many have praised the opening scene of the movie as being a very signature Lars Von Trier, but I personally loved the final scene. The different ways of dealing with melancholia and the Planet Melancholia itself make for a very impactful ending.
The film is out-standing when it comes to acting. Kirsten Dunst has done a fabulous job but Charlotte Gainsbourg, the Anti-Christ girl, shines in this Lars Von Trier film as well. The rest of the cast though is not the focus of the story; they support the two sisters very well.
Melancholia is a slightly lighter way of showing depression. The film is dark, yet smooth and especially the second part takes-off really well. The movie is very much unlike Lars Von Trier and his usual dark & heavy style of dealing with people who have lost touch with themselves & interest in love and life.
The movie is definitely a must-watch; only caution is that it might lead you to a state of Melancholia in the end.