Melancholia is a science fiction drama film written and directed by Lars von Trier, starring Kirsten Dunst, Charlotte Gainsbourg and Kiefer Sutherland. The narrative revolves around two sisters in dispute while the life of the planet is threatened as a rogue planet approaches, portending a deadly collision.
Trier’s main idea for the film was to dramatise how a depressive person reacts more calmly than others in a situation of high stress. The film was a Danish majority production through Zentropa, with international co-producers in Sweden, France, Germany and Italy. Filming took place in Sweden. The film makes references to romantic art and prominently features Richard Wagner’s overture from Tristan und Isolde.
The film begins with an introductory sequence, with a number of stylised images of the main characters as well as images from space. The end of the world is shown in the form of a collision between Earth and a larger planet. Melancholia is thereafter divided into two parts.
In part one, called Justine, the young couple Justine and Michael are getting married at a castle, but the party is far from successful, as Justine’s divorced parents, Dexter and Gaby, are openly fighting at the dinner. Justine herself is both alienated from her sister, her new husband, her boss and her parents.
She drifts away from the party, and becomes increasingly sad and desperate during the night. At several occasions, she looks at a specific star, which seems to shine brighter than normal. Claire’s husband John says it is the star Antares, and later in the film the star disappears. At the end of the party, Michael leaves Justine, implying that their marriage is called off.
In part two, called Claire, Justine has initially become severely depressed. She visits Claire and John, who live in the same castle with their son Leo. To begin with, Justine is unable to do normal everyday things like taking a bath or eat, but becomes more confident over time. It has been revealed that the reason for Antares’ disappearance was the rogue planet Melancholia, which had previously been hidden behind the sun, had eclipsed the star. At the same time, Melancholia, a blue telluric planet (or super-earth), has become visible in the sky. John, being very keen on astronomy, is excited about the planet, and looks forward to the so-called “fly-by”, as Earth and Melancholia are supposed to pass by each other without collision.
Melancholia
Directed by: Lars von Trier
Starring: Kirsten Dunst, Charlotte Gainsbourg, John Hurt, Kiefer Sutherland, Charlotte Rampling, Alexander Skarsgård, Jesper Christensen, Stellan Skarsgård
Screenplay by: Lars von Trier
Production Design by: Jette Lehmann
Cinematography by: Manuel Alberto Claro
Film Editing by: Molly Marlene Stensgaard
Costume Design by: Manon Rasmussen
Art Direction by: Simone Grau
MPAA Rating: R for some graphic nudity,sexual content and language.
Studio: Magnolia Pictures
Release Date: November 11, 2011
Related Link: View Full Production Notes for Lars van Trier’s Melancholia
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