Cannes Best Actress winner Kirsten Dunst is superb in this drama from the controversial director of Antichrist, Breaking the Waves and Nymphomaniac.
The end of the world is nigh, literally, as not-so-enfant terrible Lars von Trier empoys a planetary apocalypse to explore the crippling nature of psychological trauma. As Justine (Dunst) arrives for her wedding reception (guests include Charlotte Gainsbourg, Kiefer Sutherland, Charlotte Rampling, John Hurt and Alexander Skarsgård) in her sister’s mansion home, her inner demons take control. At the same time, Earth is threatened by an imminent collision with Planet Melancholia, whose presence becomes increasingly ominous as the film moves towards its truly spectacular finale. Von Trier is a master of image and mood. Here, after the comedy of manners that is the wedding day, the filmmaker shifts gear to create one of his most emotional portraits of human frailty.
★★★★★ “A crazily bold, visually enthralling, and emotionally seismic drama about the meaning of existence” - Sukhdev Sandhu, The Telegraph
★★★★★ “Audacious, beautiful, tactful filmmaking” - Kim Newman, Empire
