The Stream: Could this have been a true crime television episode?

The Big Screen: An intricate story performed by a great cast.

The Final Bill: An intriguing courtroom drama with unexpected turns will keep your rapt until the final verdict.

– Trip Fontaine
Director: Justine Triet
Writers: Justine Triet and Arthur Harari
Stars: Sandra Hüller, Swann Arlaud, Milo Machado Graner, Samuel Theis
Genre: Drama, Crime
Rating: R for some language, sexual references and violent images
Runtime:
Production Companies: Les Films Pelleas, Les Films de Pierre, France 2 Cinema, Canal+
Platform: In limited theaters October 13, 2023
Notable Trailers: Argylle, Napoleon, One Love, Ferrari, Eileen, Poor Things

Bonjour, Streamers! For the adventurous viewers, Anatomy of a Fall, the winner of the big prize at this year’s Cannes Film Festival is available in theaters. It is a French courtroom drama that plays out much like a prestige HBO true crime limited series. While some of it is in French, a lot of dialogue is also in English. If you are leery of subtitles, then this movie might still be okay for you. Here’s how it goes.

In Anatomy of a Fall, a celebrated novelist, Sandra Voyter (Sandra Huller), is living in a secluded chalet in the French Alps with her husband, Samuel (Samuel Theis), and their son, Daniel (Milo Machado-Graner). When Daniel returns home from a walk with his dog, he finds Samuel dead from an apparent fall in the snowy driveway. Suspicion falls to Sandra when the forensics and the stories of Daniel and Sandra don’t add up. Was Samuel’s death an accident, suicide or did Sandra push him? Explosive courtroom hijinks ensue.

Anatomy of a Fall is a pretty simple movie that makes a typical courtroom drama very engrossing.  While the mystery about Samuel’s death is basic, it is told in such a way to pull in the audience. There is so much tension built with every mounting scene, and you don’t know who to believe. Finding out what happened and why is enough to sustain your attention for this 2+ hours. Beyond that, the twists that the story takes in showing the relationship between Samuel and Sandra only adds more intrigue.

Also, this cast is really great. Sandra Huller has a steely resolve playing her character.  She is not warm and fuzzy or a typical grieving widow. She is very murky and you don’t know if you can trust her. Milo Machado-Graner is a scene-stealer as Sandra’s young son. He gives this movie heart. Antoine Reinartz plays the Prosecutor in this courtroom drama, and he is a guy you’ll love to hate. The entire ensemble comes together to put on a really fascinating and entertaining movie. The story is full of small details that enhance the overall picture, and everyone contributes something special.

Ultimately, Anatomy of a Fall is an entertaining and tension-filled courtroom drama. While the story is basic, the way it is told is very engrossing.  The cast is uniformly good with Sandra Huller and Milo Machado-Graner being standouts in their pivotal roles.  If this movie is available in a theater near you, don’t let subtitles deter you as much of this movie is in English. Grab a big box of popcorn.