Melancholia (2011)

Never thought I'd say this but after having recently watched Antichrist and now this, Lars Von Trier is slowly overtaking David Lynch as my favourite film director.

The story of Melancholia focuses on sisters Justine and Claire as a planet draws closer and closer to Earth. Will it miss? Will it literally end the world as we know it? You'll have to watch to find out!

Similarly to Antichrist, the first 10 minutes of Melancholia features some of the most beautiful scenes committed to film. Stunning, simply stunning.

In terms of narrative, and certainly in comparison to Antichrist and most David Lynch films, Melancholia is relatively easy to comprehend. It's not ambiguous and loaded to the brim with symbolism like Antichrist, but it's no less fascinating to watch because of the fantastic characters Lars has created in Justine and Claire.

So, Kirsten Dunst. I'll be honest, I can't stand this actress but for Melancholia she is the perfect choice to play Justine. I've always seen her as having a kind of fake-niceness so in this movie, I like to think she's simply playing her natural self. Charlotte Gainborough is someone I hadn't even heard of before Antichrist and while her role as Claire isn't as full on as in that film, she still does an incredible job. Not sure if I like her as much as Naomi Watts but she is an amazing actress in her own right!

If you enjoy beautiful films that study the human condition, great acting focusing on a small cast and an ending that will stay with you for some time, see Melancholia. 9/10