Review of Melancholia (2011) by Luke H — 28 Sep 2012

This is the third Lars Von Trier film that I have seen, and by now I am pretty much enamoured with his work. Of the three Von Trier films that I have seen (the other two being Dancer in the Dark and Antichrist), I think this is the best. It is less disturbing than the other two, and feels more mature to some extent, but for me the aspect which garnered the most interest was its theme.

Mortality and psychology are certainly not unheard of cinematic themes. Indeed, the former is the primary focus in most blockbusters. But instead of analysing it, mainstream cinema tends to use mortality as a background and nothing more, whereas Melancholia brings it forward and doesn't skirt away from it at the last moment.

Justine and Michael's marriage seems to be a sham from the start, with her parents' divorce and Justine's struggle with depression overshadowing her wedding day. Using such a coveted ceremony such as marriage and picking it apart, from the arbitrary traditions (cutting the cake and being carried over the threshold), to the event itself (and how everyone is expected to be happy), it is a bitter reminder that nothing ever works out as we expect it to, and even the most momentous events in a person's life can be ruined by external forces. This absolute cynicism towards family life is a familiar feeling, and it was certainly a breath of fresh air to see it portrayed in a light so different to the one usually portrayed in films.

The biggest question posed is arguably how one deals with it the inevitability of death. How do we prepare, how do we spend the last days of our lives? These are questions which pervade the film from beginning to end, and in the end, we see that the answer is almost nothing. The characters do little more than sit around and wait, which is a bitingly accurate metaphor for the way humanity spends most of its days.

Situated on a country manor away from the hysteria of the cities, you get a real insight into how individuals deal with momentous life and death situations; how marriage can fail so easily, how depression can sabotage a family's chance at happiness, how people can be unrelentingly selfish, and how people react when they know that everyone close to them is about to die.

After reading a few reviews for Melancholia it is frustratingly obvious that people are still hung up about Von Trier being banned from the Cannes Film Festival, and this just goes to show that many people are more concerned with public opinion than their own. Similarly, many characters at the wedding care about nothing more than the execution of a cliche, whilst others, such as Justine, are prepared to admit their own emotions and refuse to bow down to everyone else's wishes. And this is perhaps one of the most important lessons the film has to offer.