Melancholia: A Review
Lars Von Trier’s latest rom-com, Melancholia, is a film about a planet that has been hiding behind the sun, and suddenly appears as a red dot in the constellation system. It is headed straight for earth, and when it hits, life will end. Juxtaposed with this harbinger for the end of the world is the story of a family, rife with dysfunction, who come together to celebrate the marriage of their daughter, Justine, to Eric the Vampire, Alexander Skarsgard.
At first glance, Justine is the picture of the perfect, glowing bride. But as her wedding progresses, it becomes clear that like Melancholia the planet, her own deep melancholy has creeped upon her, unbeknownst to those who weren’t watching her carefully. Heralded with a blaze of self destructive events—Justine leaves her dinner to go relieve herself on the golf course that surrounds her brother-in-laws ridiculous mansion, and then, when shit really hits the fan, she returns to the space to violently ride a man who is not the groom—Justine’s mental illness blackens the world around her, dragging those surround her into the depths of despair.
By the time that the planet finally does crash, a tiresome 2-hours and something-minutes later, Justine and her family, defeated, are ready to welcome death.
