Anatomy of a Fall marks a milestone for French director Justine Triet, whose captivating storytelling has reached new heights in this year’s Cannes Palme d’Or winner. This legal thriller opens as Sandra, the film’s protagonist (Sandra Hüller), a successful German novelist, is being interviewed in her partially renovated French mountain chalet. Suddenly loud music blares from her husband’s attic room. She cuts the interview short and heads upstairs as her son Daniel leaves the house to walk his dog. When he returns home, he finds his father outside on the ground, blood pooling beneath his head. Put on trial for her husband’s mysterious death, the film evolves into a courtroom drama where actress Sandra Hüller’s commanding performance keeps you guessing about her innocence or guilt as it explores the elusive nature of truth in relationships, whether familial or judicial. What makes this film stand out is its dual focus: while one eye is on solving the mystery of the husband’s death, the other is fixed on the intricate relationship between husband and wife. It is as much a portrait of a complex woman as it is an inquiry into social justice and human morality. The film does not just ask questions but makes you question — your preconceptions, the legal system, and even the narrative itself. Triet shoots Anatomy in a style of dynamic realism that, combined with the artfully restless camera work of DP Simon Beaufils, amplifies the ambiguities of the plot. While the story hinges on a murder, the complex storytelling marrying intellect and emotional depth combined with brilliant acting makes this film a tour de force. Nicole Guillemet