Those who don't know the work of director Lars Von Trier might look upon Melancholia and think it is a deeply cynical and depressing affair with nothing complementary to say about the world or its inhabitants. Actually when juxtaposed against his other films (AntiChrist Dogville etc) Melancholia is rather tame and is certainly more accessible to the tastes of modern audiences. As strange as it is to call a film about a planet crashing into earth normal, this is perhaps Von Trier's most "normal" film to date. It is heavy going at times as all the director's work is, yet the tougher moments are worth it for the quality of the acting, especially Kirsten Dunst who's portrait of a perennially depressed young woman is eerily on target. In addition there are some breathtaking visuals (one in particular will please Dunst's male fans) and some clever statements about marriage and the ridiculousness of routine and ceremony. I don't expect the majority of the general public will warm to Melancholia, after all the damn film is called Melancholia, but it is a deeply affecting film if you give it a chance and the acting by all concerned is flawless.
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