Say what you will about Lars von Trier, but the man makes some interesting films. His latest film, Melancholia, is a complex intermingling of genres and ideas that is sure to intrigue. Imagine if Chekhov or Ibsen wrote a sci-fi story and you’ve got an idea of what to expect (think: The Last Three Sisters on Earth or The Cosmic Cherry Orchard or A Doll’s House on the Moon).
The film follows the back and forth between two sisters who struggle to maintain their relationship in the wake of opposing worldviews. Justine (Kirsten Dunst) is a pragmatic realist/pessimist who suffers from severe depression and Claire (Charlotte Gainsbourg) is the long-suffering older sister who perpetually hopes for the best. Oh, and there’s also a newly discovered rogue planet named Melancholia that may or may not be on a collision course for Earth. Hijinks ensue. Continue reading
