MELANCHOLIA
Written and Directed by: Lars Von Trier
Starring: Kirsten Dunst, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Alexander Skarsgård, Kiefer Sutherland, Stellan Skarsgård, Brady Corbet, John Hurt, Charlotte Rampling, and Udo Kier
Have you ever wondered what the end of the world would be like? Doomsday believers have been speculating for years, but now we are treated to seeing director and “enfant terrible” Lars Von Trier’s apocalyptic vision, MELANCHOLIA. While the film is not engrossing in terms of “oh these characters are so interesting,” the situation and how it plays out at the end is so harrowing, it makes you think about your own life and your own loved ones.
MELANCHOLIA begins with a wallop of intense, highly stylized, and artistically photographed images set to Richard Wagner’s “Tristan und Isolde” prelude. It’s a powerful prologue, lasting around ten minutes, setting the dramatic stage. Our story is separated into two distinct chapters: Justine (Kristen Dunst) and Claire (Charlotte Gainsbourg) – two sisters raised together but having completely differing worldviews and lifestyles. The first chapter takes place on the wedding night of nubile bride Justine and her groom Michael (Alexander Skarsgård) on the lavish grounds of John (Kiefer Sutherland) and Claire’s home. Loads of strife – both familial and work related – is being covered up by the loose band-aid that is the joyous occasion of this wedding reception. Justine is suffering from onset depression (bipolar maybe?) which Michael, the sweet rube that he is, has tried to save her from by succumbing to marrying her. Her pushy boss Jack (Stellan Skarsgård) has hired Tim (Brady Corbet) to tail her all night to pull something out of Justine. Her parents, played by cinematic icons John Hurt and Charlotte Rampling, neither get along nor believe in traditional marriage anymore. Claire’s relationship with her husband John, who likes to both show off and complain about his money, seems to also be part of this careful balancing act. By the time the actual fireworks happen, the guests have seen enough emotional ones to leave completely satisfied. This chapter is only partially effective (thanks to a running joke courtesy of wedding planner extraordinaire Udo Kier), and will mostly leave audiences scratching their heads as to what’s going on.
The second chapter, where it switches narratives to sister Claire, is really where MELANCHOLIA hits its stride. The story has flashed forward in time, although we aren’t sure by how much – the only clues are that Dunst’s hair is shorter and her depression has worsened. Rumors are swirling about a planet scientists have named Melancholia that’s set to either pass by or collide with Earth. This is the backdrop to Justine’s visit, but of course there is more at play here. Claire has obviously displaced and funneled her anxious feelings of dread into nursing Justine back to health, much to John’s chagrin. This metaphor for her character – trying to make things work despite the inevitable doom, and the desperate situational struggle she is in – isn’t lost on the viewer. The reason this second narrative works so much more brilliantly than the first is that the terrifying feeling of what the future holds is completely relatable. You can accumulate all the goods you want, but that won’t change what’s truly important in life – the people you care about. Also, the planet measuring gadget Claire’s son invents works as a very clever dramatic device. The main weakness the film holds are the characters Von Trier has painted with such broad strokes; men abandon and use women at their discretion, and women are portrayed as anxious, hysterical beings.
There’s a prophetic line Sutherland’s character tosses out that sums up this film perfectly: “Melancholia is going to pass right in front of us, and it’s going to be the most beautiful sight ever.” While the film itself certainly is that, it also leaves a heavy residue of depression that will linger for days after viewing it.
MELANCHOLIA is available now on iTunes, Amazon Instant, and Video On Demand. It plays AFI Fest on November 6 and 8.
