Melencholia

Melencholia - Art comes in many forms, and film presents it in many ways. Just to put together a film is art, but to tell an artistic story, now that’s the beauty of the art. I had never heard of the film Melencholia. While watching the film it made me think about the film festivals I used to be a part of. It allowed me to see films that most people never get a chance to see. Sometimes a film doesn’t get distribution or it goes straight to DVD. There are many reasons a film doesn’t get the appreciation it should get despite what some audiences may think.

Thanks to my friends who love movies as much as I do, they supply me with films I can’t get around to seeing. We trade off movies or they just send me the films they are getting rid of. One such film is Melencholia. The film opens with visuals. I wasn’t sure what to expect. It looked like an experimental film. There were images that were very artsy. They appeared to be stills, but then it looked as if the images were moving in slow motion. I was really getting into it and then there was the fade to black. A title appeared on the screen Part one Justine. The people in the film looked familiar, but I wasn’t sure. The film opens with a bride and groom in a stretch limo trying to maneuver a short curb in a country hillside. There isn’t a lot of dialogue. The story is being told by the facial expressions of the characters. There is joy, sadness, uncertainty and happiness in various moments as everyone in the car takes a turn trying to drive the car around the sharp turn. Who exactly achieves the feat we never know, but the bride and groom are in the back of the limo when it arrives at the top of the hill.

The host is very upset as the bride and groom are two hours late for their own reception. Again, dialogue is not the main aspect of this film. What  little the actors say is brought out by their actions as we get a quick understanding of the relationship between the newlywed couple, Michael and Justine. We meet the family through toasts and little introductions as one would normally have at such an event. We become a part of the wedding reception.
Justine is going through a transition and it not sure if she has made the correct decision.
Michael is the loving husband doing his best to show support.

The audience then gets to understand the opening of the film and what Justine does. She works in advertising and her boss is at the wedding seeking a tag line for a recent ad which he flashes the photograph on the screen at the reception. The pressure is on as Justine’s decision affects several people at the wedding. A newly hired employee, her boss, her husband and herself. We see the dysfunctional family appear right before our very eyes.

A mother who hates weddings because her own marriage didn’t work out. A sister that loves her sister very much, but she doesn’t seem to comprehend the love. A father that seems to be on the verge of dementia and refers to everyone as Betty, even his own daughter.
Parts of the film are shot in an amateur manner and then some parts are so artistic. Its like an artsy reality film. There are many long shots where we can take in the beautiful scenery. The aerial shots are breath taking as we see the characters on several occasions riding the horses. Sometimes through the fog or clouds and other times on a clear day.

Part two Claire centers on the sister and we find out what Melencholia is all about. Melencholia is a planet. Claire’s husband is obsessed with the phenomenon, but we can sense the fear that Claire has. She is afraid to die.

Melencholia is great to watch and there’s something unexpected in almost every scene. The ending certainly was unexpected. The cast is just incredible to watch. There are a few actors I'd not seen in anything for quite some time. The film is directed by Lars Von Trier

The film stars Kirsten Dundst,  Charlotte Gainsbourg, Kiefer Sutherland, Alexander Skarsgard, John Hurt, Charlotte Rampling, Stellan Skarsgard, Brady Corbet, and Udo Kier.