While the film is one of the darlings of the awards season, in France as in the United States, here is a quick recap of what you need to know about Anatomy of a Fall. Nominations, awards, box office, and also where to see it now?
It is one of the French films which will have marked the year 2023, thanks to its Palme d’Or. And which in 2024, continues its successful journey, accumulating nominations and awards. As the Césars and Oscars approach, we take stock of some information you need to know about Anatomy of a Fall.
Where to watch the film?
Supported by excellent word of mouth, Justine Triet’s film is still visible in cinemas almost 6 months after its release. Anatomy of a Fall saw a boost in January thanks to several operations such as the Télérama Festival or Les unmissables UGC giving new exposure to the film. News of the Oscar nominations and the Golden Globes awards also boosted attendance.
Rated 4.3 out of 5: where to see Anatomy of a Fall, the French film that is a hit around the world?
The film has been available on VOD, DVD and Blu-Ray since December. It will be broadcast on Canal+ in February, then available on myCANAL. The broadcast will be accompanied by a new documentary.
What box office for Anatomy of a Fall?
On display for almost 6 months, Anatomy of a Fall has continued to record entries, and is now approaching a new threshold. It should exceed 1.5 million admissions this weekend of February 10-11, 2024. An excellent score for a film presented as radical, and lasting 2h30.
“I started this film by saying: I’m making my most radical film, no one will go and see it, but that doesn’t matter. And then I thought I’d make a series of it! So, basically, I started with the idea that I was making a film that would have zero entries!“, said Justine Triet a few weeks before the release. The film has managed to achieve critical and public success, and it should continue to generate admissions in the run-up to the Césars and in the wake of the ceremony.
Anatomy of a fall: of a “film that would make zero entries” at the Palme d’or… Why the director was surprised by this success
What international success?
Anatomy… of an international success! Anatomy of a Fall is currently enjoying an extraordinary journey abroad, accumulating awards in ceremonies abroad.
In addition to its Palme d’Or, it has already won six prizes at the European Film Awards, two Golden Globes (best foreign language film, best screenplay), two prizes at the Gotham Independent Film Awards (best screenplay and best film international), an award at the New York Film Critics Circle Awards, an international award, a Critics Choice Award (best foreign language film), an award at the British Independent Film Awards and an award at the National Board of Review Awards. The film is in the running for the Oscars in 5 categories (film, direction, screenplay, actress (Sandra Hüller) and editing).
What are the biggest French international successes of 2023?
As Le Monde reports, it would have generated around 1.5 million admissions and, according to France Info, 23 million euros abroad. In France, it has a total of 1.3 million admissions, and should further increase this result, thanks to the Télérama Festival and the Les Incontournables UGC operation which are being held in January. The film’s career will also expand, since no less than 155 countries have bought it.
And many famous fans of the film in the United States!
Former President of the United States Barack Obama announced during his traditional end-of-year summit that the film was among his favorites of 2023. But he is not the only one in the United States to be infatuated of Anatomy of a fall.
Jessica Chastain commented on Twitter: “C‘East a film like we rarely make, breathtaking. (…) It’s electric, authentic and a real proof of the talent of a visionary director.“
Actress Jamie Lee Curtis also published a post on the film, bringing together two of her favorites, Anatomy of a Fall, but also Without Ever Knowing Us (which will be released here on February 14).
Author Joyce Carol Oates posted several tweets in which she commented on the fascinating and detailed side of the film.
Cillian Murphy is also among the fans of the film, as relayed by his fan account on Twitter.
It is even rumored that Taylor Swift loved the film!
Swann Arlaud, the new darling of Hollywood after the success of Anatomy of a Fall!
The dog Snoop (played by Messi) also has an adoring audience!
A controversial speech in Cannes
When she received the coveted Palme d’Or at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival, Justine Triet gave a particularly critical speech on the Macron government: with regard to its cultural policy which it undermines through advanced neo-liberalism to the extreme, but also by proclaiming his admiration for the protest against pension reform (“shockingly repressed” in his own words). Former Minister of Culture Rima Abdul Malak immediately said she was “stunned”, while denouncing a “ungrateful and unfair” speech, flirting with the far left. It was not until the Golden Globes awards that President Emmanuel Macron sent his congratulations to Justine Triet.
Towards a series project?
And if Anatomy of a fall became a series? The project would be under study as revealed by actor Antoine Reinartz in the show Clique. “There is a desire to buy back the rights to make a series. I don’t know what they want to do with it, I don’t know if it will be done because there is also a desire behind it to accept or not depending on the project.” Before concluding : “We are not safe from a franchise“.
Does director Justine Triet confirm this project? We asked him the question during the César nominees’ dinner which was held this Monday evening at Fouquet’s. Here is his response: “The series, frankly, I don’t know! I need to find myself, know what I want to do, because I can’t tell you what happens next!
For the record, Anatomy of a Fall had, for a time, been considered as a series, as Justine Triet confided on stage, when receiving her Palme d’Or. But his producers encouraged him to make a film. In the bonuses of the DVD of Anatomy of a Fall, we learn more precisely that it had even been considered for a few weeks to make a film and a mini-series. This track was finally evacuated but it is clearly explained that the question of the duration of the film has always been an important parameter of the film, hence this series project which had been discussed with the producers.
A long version of 3h30
In the DVD bonuses for Anatomy of a Fall, we learn that the first cut of the film lasted… 3h09! Marie-Ange Luciani, producer with David Thion, explains: “I remember, [Justine Triet] called us saying: “the assembly is finished, it’s 3:09, it’s non-negotiable!“And added:”In addition, if it is possible, it is necessary to do a series assembly. I can’t give up all this stuff“. The editing of the film had several durations: 3h30, then 3h09, 2h50, and finally the final version of 2h31.
A cut love scene!
Invited as part of the Rotterdam International Film Festival, the film’s lead actress, Sandra Hüller, also currently starring in The Zone of Interest, revealed (via Variety) that a sex scene with Swann Arlaud had been removed from the film. Producer Marie-Ange Luciani pleaded for it to be scrapped.
“There was an explicit sex scene in the film, you could see this relationship, and she said, ‘Please don’t do it, it’s too 80s,’ and it was all It’s true. Why do people always have to prove they love each other by sleeping together? It’s so normal!”
In the film, lawyer Vincent Renzi, played by Swann Arlaud, is a former acquaintance of Sandra Voyter, and does not hide the fact that he was previously in love with her. A passion far from being extinguished in fact, which is not without posing a problem in their relationship as lawyer and client.
Is Sandra guilty or innocent?
Interviewed by Variety last December, its interpreter Sandra Hüller gave her opinion on this thorny question: “I think I wanted to create a character who would have been able to do that, I wanted some people to be a little scared of her”said the actress.
“Why should we always be nice victims and all that? I had a bit of fun casting doubt on that. (…) Sometimes I wake up at night and think, ‘Oh, I missed something.’ Maybe she really did. But I don’t know.”
What project in the future for Justine Triet?
Justine Triet told us about her current state of mind: “It’s going to be hard to make a film again afterwards, and to accept that success isn’t necessarily there every time you do something, but it’s great to experience it that way and a little crazy because that the film was not programmed for that at all. The film was really thought of as something radical so it’s all the more joyful to experience all of that.”
And added: “I read things… That I was going to make a film with Jennifer Lawrence! I assure you, this is false! I’ve heard things… It’s a bit like our world today! There is something that escapes us a little. (…) I can’t wait to find myself alone in a tunnel for 2 months and then I can start to have ideas. I have plans, but I haven’t really had time to get back to them.”
For the record, Anatomy of a Fall is still in theaters. It is now approaching 1.5 million admissions in France. It is also available on VOD, DVD, Blu-Ray. It will be broadcast on Canal+ Box-office on February 24, 2024, then on February 27 on Canal+, accompanied by a new documentary.
He is in the running for the Césars which will be held on February 23, then the Oscars on the night of March 10 to 11.