A film with many moving parts requires audiences to think. In Anatomy of a Fall, I thought about the evidence and about who is associated with the conflict. Ultimately, it comes down to determining the evolving resolution. Anatomy of a Fall is an emotional experience of realism with an enticing vibe of disconnect. French writer and director Justine Triet brings her audience on a journey of a tragedy that focuses on findingfactual evidence. The story includes family dynamics and conflicts. These two elements create an experience of sadness, empathy, and hope while investigating a death case.

Anatomy of a Fall takes place in France. The film introduces us to Sandra (played by Sandra Huller). Sandra is a successful writer with an eleven-year-old son, Daniel, who is blind (played by Milo Machado Granier). Sandra seems to have a normal life filled with daily routine and success. That all changes when her husband, Samuel (played by Samuel Theis), is found dead outside. Her deceased husband becomes a stressful nightmare that enters the life of Sandra and Daniel.

With authorities doing the research and putting the pieces together, it is hard for them to find proof and put evidence together regarding the cause of Samuel’s death. He supposedly fell while doing construction on their rooftop home. The film’s writing tackles difficult and mind-boggling emotions as Sandra tries to navigate the situation and the impact on her son. Sandra’s lawyer friend, Vincent Renzi (played by Swann Arlaud), comes in to help. As the evidence comes together, Anatomy of a Fall goes down an irresistible slope for answers. Due to Daniel’s blindness, he can only recount the events of what happened based on his auditory memory of his auditory. Daniel also has memories of the tension between his mother and father before Samuel’s death. The autopsy makes it hard to determine whether Samuel committed suicide and the authorities dive into the possibility that Sandra might have killed him. Exploring this possibility is where Anatomy of a Fall has the most spellbinding direction.

As the evidence and pieces come together, the courts begin to bring the dynamics between Sandra and Samuel into the bigger picture. The stressful energy between the two of them could have provoked triggers for Samuel. Sandra declines the negative attention, but the situation is not good for Daniel. Thelimitations in his daily life caused by his blindness put him in a mental state that is overwhelming for him. Through it all, Sandrais a good mom and does not give up on Daniel. The autopsy of confusing factors and the tough love exhibited in Anatomy of a Fall portray a very emotional form of resilience. Each piece of evidence is a new piece to the puzzle. Ultimately, how did the death of Samuel happen?

Anatomy of a Fall won the Palme d’Or at the Cannes film festival this year. This film is deserving because its direction is so precise. It is moving, stressful, and strong in portraying a mother and son sticking together in an unprecedented time. With the evidence making it hard to bring the case to resolution, the voices of Sandra and Daniel matter. It is inevitable.

As someone who has struggled with emotional dynamics in my own life, Anatomy of a Fall was an experience that reminded me how hard it can be to remain strong. This is especially true during life events that are unexpected and unwelcome, but nonetheless we must tolerate. The film paints a portrait of how far people go to help the ones who are most important to them. Daniel may be blind, but he can use his words to protect himself. Sandra may be in a rough place with the authorities due to her husband’s death, but that does not make her his murderer. The film demonstrates that even when systems in society can be unfair, sticking together can lead to a stronger outcome. Anatomy of A Fall is a breathtaking ride in the life of Sandra and Daniel and deserves four out of four stars.