Melancholia

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Plot: The movie starts with a (slow motion) visual poem that ends with planets colliding. When the live action starts, Justine (Kirsten Dunst) is heading to her own wedding reception at her sister Clair (Charlotte Gainsbourg) and her husband's (Kiefer Sutherland) huge estate. They can't get the wedding because their huge limo can't drive the serpentine roads to the house, so they arrive late. She is easily distracted and tired, and spends time outside looking at the stars, upstairs taking a bath, and otherwise lounging. Afterwards, they realize a planet (Melancholia) may hit the earth, and end all life. Those who know the planet is going to hit commit suicide, but others lie to themselves saying it will miss. Clair becomes more devoted to her young son.

Review: I had a really good attitude when I started watching, and I wanted to like this movie. I saw the opening visual poem, and I said -- look at all the pretty barely moving photos -- how artistic! When the limo got stuck on the road, I said, "What a great metaphor for society!" At the wedding reception, I thought that the incomprehensible weirdness must be leading somewhere, but it was just leading to the end of the world.  The slow pacing was just too much. I got tired of watching the little that was happening, happen so slowly. Soon I was dozing off. I missed a few suicides. 

I never fall asleep at movies, except for this movie. When I woke up, Justine was depressed and unable to care for herself, and Clair was trying to help her. 

This is an intelligent script with some clever metaphors that are thought provoking. The film dealt with death and personal destruction. It says that it is best to help each other by lying to each other. Not uplifting.  (See "Even More" section below for more ideas on the meaning of the movie.)

 Kirsten Dunst and Charlotte Gainsbourg give great performances. The others are forgettable, except child actor Cameron Spurr, who is bad. The visuals are generally good, and tell the story better than the words.

This ambitious movie could have been so much better, because sad movies don't need to be glacially slow.

Cast: Kirsten Dunst, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Kiefer Sutherland

Written and directed by: Lars von Trier

Rating:   2.5 stars: A dreary and sleepy movie experience that I don't recommend, but it is thought-provoking, and well-made.  It should be rated lower since it is so hard to watch. It should be higher because it is so fun to talk about. 

More: I wonder how the gravity would change if another planet would hit the earth. I wonder if people would become weightless in the end. How would you film that?

Even More: Maybe Melancholia is not really about death, but actually is about depression. It is about how lying to oneself is necessary to keep functioning. People who fail to lie, kill themselves. Living with depression requires some self-deception and other people to help.


Yet More: We saw Melancholia on pay-per-view prior to theatrical release. I wonder if watching new films on TV will catch on?