A depressive bride-to-be prepares for her wedding day, convinced her inevitable demise is related to a mysterious planet threatening to collide with Earth.
Without trying to pretentious, Lars Von Trier is one of those directors that won't appeal to everyone, but like David Lynch appears to be a master at what he does. I found it a pretty hypnotic movie, not just because of special effects set to music, but also the dialogue and raw quality in the acting.
Strange, I've seen this a couple of times and never considered that Kirsten's character was somehow causing the end, and having thought about it, still don't think so. I interpreted the scene where Kermode imagined her drawing down the planet Melancholia, to actually be her basking in it. The point is, as I see it, she thinks she knew it was coming (this is made explicit in the dialog), and knowing this made her happy, rather than her being any sort of cause.
Luke Alexander i agreed with u. the idea isnt that shes causing it it alll its the absurdism in her being the only one who can face the end calmly and relish in it compared to her usual depresive states while her sister becomes almost catatonic and the scientist husband couldnt either cause he offs himself
I believe the confusion is because Lars von tier is vague in this film. We know that Justine is somehow linked to the planet, but we don’t know exactly how. Some have wondered if her depression is causing the planet to kill everyone. Is she feeling the presence of the planet coming near and knows it will be the end of the world which is this the cause of her depression? Is the fact that she’s knows they are the only life on earth and it’s making her depressed and yet no one else can relate making her depressed. Or is her dysfunctional family caused her to be depressed and this allows her to feel the planet and able to see how life is just an illusion and how everyone is happy when it’s just misery and won’t be for long? We know that she specifically states that she’s not afraid of the planet. She welcomes the end. We can see lighting emulating from her fingertips to the sky (melancholia link?)
I thought the movie showed how Kirstens character couldn't handle life.... That's the 1st half. She is depressed and can't handle LIFE. 2nd half is the coming of DEATH. And Kirsten is perfectly fine facing death. But her sister, who could handle life, cannot handle the coming death.
Watch the movie before you listen to the review. Its one of those movies you love or hate. It takes patience and an open mind, and its absolutely stunning. I like the way Mark used the word "desparity", this film is just in a perpetual state of despair and anxiety. Its almost agonizing to see the subtle unraveling of the characters, and their relationships. Melancholy really is the only way to describe this film. One of my favorites, Though i wasnt expecting it to be.
I never thought something like that wedding at the beginning of Melancholia was even possible until I witnessed these things myself :/ Life can be so incredibly sad.
For such a depressing film, Melancholia is exhilarating and terrifying. Unforgettable. For a similarly depressing theme but with comedic notes, there’s, Seeking A Friend for the End of the World. And for another dramatic turn, there’s, 4:44 Last Day on Earth. All three films masterfully achieve to emotionally capture you till the bitter end.
Surprised Kermode flat out hated Breaking the Waves. I've only seen that and Dogville from him (both of which I loved) and I'm kind of unsure about jumping into his later, more nihilist ventures due to their nature (and also their reception) but I think I've been intrigued by Melancholia the most. I've had depression and such, and as Kermode notes how bold the film is to have the title of 'Melancholia', that seems a bit less brazen than 'Antichrist' frankly, so I'm curious to see how well it pulls off the subject if it has the audacity to have such an all-encompassing and bold name and ambitions. I've also been intrigued with the notion of the end of the world and the varying reactions to it, which I guess this film deals with, so I think that sounds like it can be quite promising. As for Breaking the Waves, I don't think it's a mean film at all, it's so redemptive. When I first watched the film, I felt all the loving power and raw emotion to all the events unfolding, and it evoked so much pathos, but I had this incorrect assumption that the film would be about giving free will to females as a counter to misogynist personalities and hetero marriages that tend to have the female become an attachment to the male as opposed to a partnership, but I didn't know Bess was SUPPOSED to be a simple, stagnant character and I this was my first genre melodrama, so I didn't know this was one of its conventions and was how they played out, so I was very angry and bothered by the film when the final chapter and credits played out, but after thinking over the film being about a transcendent love, a Christ sacrifice allegory, intimate, personal spiritual relationships and such, it all just clicked and ruminating over it all and its joyous ending, it was so masterful and resonant to me. It might not have the same effect of those from a secular field, but I think if you get into the film's framework and see the integrity and craftsmanship in it, it is a staggering, wonderful piece of cinema.
+Mizuru Souten Yeah he's way off there. Breaking the Waves is absolutely brilliant. Dogville as well. And I'd definitely give Antichrist and Melancholia a watch. Those four are all arguably his best films imo. I switch back and forth between favorites. I know depression and anxiety well and Melancholia was a very touching film for me. One of my favorites. I highly suggest watching it.
Mark hated Breaking The Waves to the point that his wife The Good Lady Professor Her Indoors actually agreed with him that they both think it's a terrible film, and even Mark infamously got thrown out of the Cannes Film Festival in 1998 for heckling Von Trier's The Idiots because of an orgy scene.
I think if you dont listen to these guys on a regular basis ( and realize this is primarily a radio show ) then you could easily think that. This is not Simon Mayo's finest hour, but generally their interplay is fantastic, and the fact that he appears not to be listening is that 1) they are great friends and he lets Mark get on with it 2) he is listening to instructions from the control room and 3) that's his style He is CERTAINLY no idiot, and its a shame you got that impression from this clip
I couldn't have said it any better than the good Doctor on this movie. Loved, loved it, and I'm sure even haters of Antichrist will find it to their liking because von Trier is a little "soft" here with no absurd sexual imagery or gender issues. It probably has the best ending of any movie this year.
I would originally watch this as a double feature with Tree of Life. The 2 always struck me as 2 ways of viewing life and the universe. Occasionally, I would throw in Synedoche, New York. These 3 films moved me as much as anything until Oppenheimer 😊
I need to see it before I shit on it. But Mr Kermode liking Melancholia isn't a surprise at all. As for Von Trier's rants; he's the third Gallagher brother. He runs his trap to get noticed. Ignore him and he'll go away.
That's the host of the show, Simon Mayo. Admittedly he irritates more often that he amuses. Although when they bicker they really sound like a married couple. And that is pretty funny.
I saw the movie years ago. Had fabulous parts, indeed, but it was also a bit boring. Also, I expected things to go crazy way before Melancholia hit Earth.
Watched this film last night and was blown away by it. One thing I noticed though that few people have picked up on is that Justine has bi-polar disorder in the first part of the film, not depression.
I think this movie is convenient in a time like today, when men start to hate women because all they see is porn on-line and men really feel bad about the whole hook up culture
breaking the waves was a great film and uplifting. i cant see how marl can like antichrist and hate waves. they both are about misogyny not condoning it. i think mark hated to it cause hes a christian and waves attacks Christian patriarchy and the concept of sin. i consider breaking the waves to be a feminist piece and if mark hates it he is a closet misogynist.
continued: for a better end of the world movie watch Last Night (1998) by Don McKellar. its obviously a bitter experience as well but and nowhere near perfect but at least its watchable. Also mark in your culture show interview trier still made offensive remarks regarding any german today. so just because his father was german he can come out and call himself a nazi? so any german is a nazi by that logic? very funny mr trier.
@robaquarian I'm not attacking you here, I'm genuinely interested: I am an atheist and disagree with a hell of a lot of the dogmas and decrees and organisation of the Catholic church, but I have always found Breaking The Waves to be somewhat morally dubious concerning misogyny, so I'd be interested to hear you explain your views? (Although I do think the 'closet misogynist' remark was a bit strong)
Again, as in all Kermode reviews that last of research is astonishing. Don't believe anything Von Trier says, unless it jives with my opinion???? Hopeless
@TheTruth006 I think you have to take in account what Kermode says about Lars Von Trier being a prankster and not believing anything he says in this case. Maybe Von Trier actually does like his own movie but he's just being the jester and provoking a reaction as he normally does. If there is indeed any truth in this statement about him not liking Melancholia then I believe it would be more of a case of not being fully satisfied with the final outcome rather than hating it.
...The REAL scientists. The ones currently saying what I happen to already think are completely coincidentally the ones who are the ones I deem reliable. I love that discussion dialogue in there, it conveys that hidden doubt of uncertain and ambiguous fear, masquerading as certainty and strength of conviction.
@MissKatieHaynes If you like some type of architecture it means you are offensive? STOP being so over-dramatic for nothing, their are just words and nothing else.
I finally watched this last night on Hulu, so a couple of points: "Festen" meets "Armageddon" is PERFECT! I loved Festen (and incidentally Breaking the Waves.. although "love" is the wrong word; it turned my stomach and I felt I'd seen something seminal) when it came out, but now I'm not so sure. I missed The Idiots because it looked too... idiotic, perhaps. I struggle to pinpoint my feelings about von Trier and his movies these days, and have cooled considerably also towards the movies of his I liked, and I felt the same way about Melancholia. First: Dunst's role is HARD to pull off; playing depressed must be very difficult and she does a great job. The slo-Mo at the beginning (and in interludes) are really cool, but for me, the problem I have is that none of the characters make me want to care about them. Dunst's depression isn't built intelligibly, Gainsbourg's character feels disjointed, The Skarsgård's are... what they are, and John Hurt and Rampling are criminally under-used and one-dimensional; the only one here who impressed me (probably because he hasn't before..) is Sutherland. It's trying to be two things: one one hand, it wants to be Festen, with its clear linear timeline and almost documentary style, on the other it tries to go Meta and give us some sort of Tarkovskyan "think for yourself and I won't give you the answers" at which, in my opinion it fails miserably. I found myself checking how much was left; twice, and for me, that's not a good sign.When the ending came, I didn't care and it felt more like release than an earth-shattering end (forgive the pun). I never saw Dogville; I LOVED the concept, the sets, the idea, but the ending, where The Mafia/Deus Ex Machina comes in.. No, von Trier, I'm a fan no longer. Oh, and I have suffered depression, albeit not as deeply as Justine.
I also find Kermode's words here telling; he liked the movie, but compared to, say, Phantom Thread, which he loved, he struggles to find the right words at times, and it almost feels as though he damns it with... weak praise.
He looks a bit cold to me. Maybe there was a draft. Seriously though, I don't imagine theirs is anything more than a working relationship. Mayo is a troll to Kermode's academia.
i seen it today and quite frankly i hated it. in fact i walked out. I have NEVER walked out of a movie before. Something tells me i wont be a fan of Mr. Lars Von Trier =/
The destruction planet is a metaphor to show how beautiful earth and life on it is. The marriage is a metaphor to show personal happiness is available. They are all metaphors to picture how depresission feels. The end of the world is near due to personal illness while beauty and happiness are ever present.
I loved Breaking the Waves and Dogville, I was torn by AntiChrist, loved it until the end but I hate Melancholia, belch........haven't watched Nymphomaniac, whose got that much time?
@AHALambda101 lol, i also hated most of the first half but thankfully the second half is truely incredible and makes the whole film a pretty solid work. you should have stayed.
Dan's reply is good and funny.... but if I recall, they originally thought the planet was going to pass the earth; they learn too late that it is not. So, they basically ran out of time to do anything major, like find another planet to live on, or get things to go to the moon, or whatever.
Mark pronounces some words very oddly. He calls this film "Melancoalia" and says Kristen Dunst. He did the same thing on this other video I was watching last week where he kept saying the word "and" in a very peculiar way. It's almost as if he's trying to distance himself from received pronunciation but in the maddest way imaginable. Like he's tying to sound more common or something?? Weird.
ZemplinTemplar - the main character is utterly dysfunctional and only turns a corner when faced with oblivion. I'm really not sure how that glamourises depression. It's as stupid as people saying trainspotting glamourising heroin.
I've always found Mark Kermode very hard to listen to, but this interview has changed that. He really 'gets' the film Melancholia, and leaves Simon Mayo leagues behind as he mumbles on about a Cliff Richard song? Top marks to Mark Kermode, you have a convert after that epic, if constantly interrupted, review.
@OrlyTheDude I just found it very pretentious, slow and boring. Ultimately the opening scenes were existential guff I found and the rest was a wedding that was pretty bloody boring imo. When i got the part 2 title card I just upped and left. As a side note I seen this in a half full and quite small screen in a glasgow cinema. About 9 other people left too. I have never walked out of a movie before nor have i seen so many people walk out either.
Great review of an excellent film. The kerfuffle over von Trier's Cannes' shrinks in comparison to Der Drumph's, there are good people on both sides in Charlotte and in the Russian cyber attack on our Democracy. Kermode and Mayo is my go to place for thoughtful cinema commentary.
i feel the same way about Melancholia as Mark does about Breaking the Waves. It has me seething with anger, as it is such a poor effort by Trier in my eyes. The slow motion opening would make Zak Snyder cringe and the whole concept of the planet crashing into earth would make any real scientist bash their head against the ground in revulsion. There is no logic in his storytelling, the making of this film or the plot itself. Everything is depressing and one sided, i didnt sympathise any character
A most boring pointless movie. I'm on here trying to figure out what is was about. If id known it was a meditation on depression I would have skipped it. So boring it nearly gave me depression. And long!!!
