You know a film has truly crossed over into the public consciousness when a key scene becomes a meme-based punchline on social media.
Case in point, that blistering row between Sandra (Sandra Hüller) and Samuel (Samuel Theis) in Anatomy Of A Fall. The one that we won't spoil for you right now, but is nonetheless currently popping up all over X. It’s the stand-out scene from Justine Triet’s psychological thriller for a reason, perfectly setting the tone for the rest of the Palme D’Or-winning film. Which is to say, it's about time that you watched it (and got in on the joke before it's too late).
If you feel stable enough to take on the rest of this tense murder mystery, here’s how you can watch the film described by the Daily Telegraph as “a sparkling intellectual film that lingers for days”.
What’s the big idea?
Sandra, Samuel, their visually impaired son Daniel (Milo Machado-Graner), and their dog Snoop (shout out to Messi the dog) live in a picture-perfect snow-capped chalet near Grenoble, but their domestic life is a trying one. Suddenly, Samuel is found dead outside the house. Did he jump, or was he pushed? The film shifts into a legal drama, in which the true nature of their relationship is dissected in court.
In an interview with Paris Match, Triet explained: “I really wanted to address the legal question in all its details, to delve into issues of relationships and cohabitation. It was also a pretext to dissect every aspect of their lives.” In the same interview, she also revealed that she was in part inspired by the case of Amanda Knox, who was accused of murdering her roommate, Meredith Kercher, in Italy in 2007.
After winning two Golden Globes and a Bafta, the film is currently up for five Oscars, and praise in particular has been lavished on Hüller – who is also terrifyingly good in another must-watch film of the year, The Zone Of Interest. As Deadline described her: “Sandra Hüller shines…her screen magnetism cannot be denied.”
How can I watch Anatomy of a Fall online?
In the US, Anatomy of a Fall will be available to watch on Hulu from March 22. It’s yet to have a streaming date released in the UK, but it’s likely it will be picked up by Amazon Prime Video, and we’ll update this page when it’s confirmed.
In the meantime, it’s available from Amazon, Google Play, Apple TV+, Sky Store, BFI Player, and YouTube with rental prices from £3.49 and to buy from £9.99. In the case of Amazon, you can sign up to a 30-day free trial in order to watch Anatomy of a Fall on Prime Video.
