TIFF 2023: Anatomy of a Fall Review

This will be one of many reviews during this year’s Toronto International Film Festival, to keep up with our latest coverage, click here.

Fresh off premiering at this year’s Cannes Film Festival, Justine Triet’s Anatomy of a Fall has quickly become one of the most highly anticipated titles at this year’s Toronto International Film Festival. Winning the Palme d’Or, the top prize of Cannes, will often quickly propel a film into the forefront of many most anticipated lists. The film is a lengthy drama that follows the experience of Sandra (Hüller), a German writer who must prove her innocence after her husband is mysteriously found dead and their blind son is the only witness. As investigators grow doubtful that Samuel accidentally fell to his death. Sandra’s experience is one that becomes increasingly more engrossing over time. From there, the film soon evolves into one of the greatest courtroom dramas in a long time, with some exceptional scenes of great tension that are acted to perfection and directed with a strong sense of confidence and vision. Letting it unravel, one can’t help but become more and more encapsulated with it as it goes on.

Meanwhile, the young Milo Machado-Graner, who plays Sandra’s blind son, Daniel, sits comfortably as the heart of the film. His role is vital, but his performance is so layered and profound. He delivers several different monologues which can all be considered as some of this year’s strongest thus far. The film thrives on his command of such an emotional hand over the investigation and his mother’s journey through it all. Hüller, for whom this role was written for, is absolutely incredible. With Sandra, there is so much going on beneath the surface, and to watch it all be picked and prodded through over the course of the film provides a lot of its most captivating moments.

Equally captivating is the film’s unique choices when it comes to the usage of languages. Sandra, a native of Germany, much prefers to speak English, whereas her husband and son both prefer the French language, thus creating a bit of a language barrier. Language is one of the film’s most powerful tools, and it further adds to Sandra’s mystique. The film’s use of language is one of the most inventive ways in any film. Anatomy of a Fall is one of those exceptional experiences where the film just gets better as it goes on, making the prospect of rewatching it very exciting. It doesn’t seek to reinvent its themes but rather explore its characters in an intimate way that sets the stage for continuous mystery, and a deeply fascinating deep dive into the artist and her art, and the struggles of family and relationships.

Anatomy of a Fall has strong ideas that come across in a rich and fascinating way. Triet’s ability to balance the film’s narrative is remarkable, and while not an overly flashy film, it is directed with a strong directorial vision that can be felt in every scene. 

*still courtesy of Elevation Pictures*

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Brennan Dubé

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