Melancholia

My First Showroom watch.

Its been a while since we've seen Kirsten Dunst on the big screen, but she's back with her natural hair colour playing a woman whose progressive depression coincides with the possible end of the world in this post apocalyptic drama. First shown at the 64th Cannes Film Festival where it received a lot of praise, and I can see why.

The start of the movie is like a prophetic dream sequence where we are introduced to some of the prominent characters of the movie, and feel almost a sense of confusion and connection to the beautiful events that unfold before our eyes.

The movie is then split in to two parts, the first one titled Justine. Where we are introduced to happy couple
Justine (Dunst) and Michael (Alexander Skarsgård) on the way to their wedding reception. But as the night

goes on Justine finds it harder and harder to keep up the façade of false pretences. Thus we begin to feel the night from her point of view; It drags and we're surrounded by the same unnamed faces, longing to have some alone time. It's with Justine that we are first made aware of trouble in the stars.

The second part titled Claire is shown from Justine's sisters point of view, in this part we learn more about the planet Melancholia that has been hiding behind the sun and is said to 'Fly By' the Earth in the near future. This part deals with how the characters cope with the approaching 'Super Earth'. Claire (Charlotte Gainsbourg) is fearful and relies on husband and astrologer John (Kiefer Sutherland), to convince her that they're all safe.
In this part we also see a role reversal between the two sisters which I felt was both subtle and effective as it danced well with the themes of the movie.

The casting was wonderfully done as the sisters especially we're believable and relate-able to as a family. The cinematography itself deserves it's own standing ovation as it it put you into the movie itself at times, pulling on your emotions until you were in the same position as the characters on screen. At times i caught myself and other around me starring up with mouths open as certain shots and sequences literally took your breath away.

Don't let the melancholic plot of this movie stop you from seeing it. Truly beautiful.