Review of Melancholia (2011) by Art S — 17 Aug 2012

This sums up my life and my dream of peace and salvation! A great vision and a great direction by Lars Von Trier. A deep understanding and portrayal of a detached, disturbed and depressed character (Justine) by Kirsten Dunst.

The first part of the movie was aptly named. It was centered around Justine. No little than some whispers were exchanged by the lady and we could feel her panic, pain and pall. Lars didn't waste any chunk in explaining why the bride got the cold feet.

The effect, on the young bride, of a dumb groom and father, obsessive employer, paranoid mother and the perfectionist of sibling's family was visible. Everyone was interested in their parts even though the eventful night was meant to be all about her.

She went for help to everyone but the dysfunctional social group had other things on their minds. They kept pushing her around and deserting her with their expectations and own views. The groom wanted sex.

The employer wanted control. The mother wanted instant separation of the newly wed bride and the groom for she didn't believe in marriage. The father wanted enjoyment. The sibling family wanted her happiness out of the huge investment and management efforts they had put into the whole organisation of marriage-party.

Nobody was listening to her. She took control for one moment and banged in domination a co-worker. The happy moment from the limo parking suddenly changed into a never-ending tragedy of damsel in distress.

Dunst definitely delivered the performance of lifetime. The second part should have been named as 'The Melancholia' and not Claire (Charlotte Gainsbourg). There was neither any distinctive involvement of Clair in the second as being the center of the movie nor was there any evolution of relationship between the two sisters, Justine and Claire .

The whole of second part was in fact centered around this icy cold planet that was slowly sucking the life out of our planet, Earth. The plot clearly depicts, how the Melancholia, being a spectacular and seemingly 'friendly' planet affected all of their lives in the family and therefore, millions of others worldwide.

It's also about the evolution of sleeper characters (Justine and her horses) and the death of active ones (Claire's Husband) in the event of visit to the Earth by the foreign tourist of a planet, Melancholia.

In the end, the enthusiastic succumbed to fear, the fearful completely lost their minds and the nonchalant buried the fear deep inside and embraced the consequences as were put. It's commendable how Justine (Dunst) pulls you into her world of melancholy that's unaffected in the least by the might of the Melancholia.

Even though the second part of the movie was supposed to be based on Gainsbourg and despite director's attempt to keep Dunst in the back burner, Dunst shone brightly in the latter part too. Infact, she overcame her illness and became the strongest of all in the end.

A resurrected phoenix emerging from the ashes learning to go again into ashes as she awaits and faces the impending doom on the planet with power and elan. This movie is definitely about Dunst and the imaginary Melancholia.