Melancholia (2011)

Two sisters find their already strained relationship challenged as a mysterious new planet threatens to collide with Earth.

Director:

Lars von Trier

Writer:

Lars von Trier

Stars:

Kirsten Dunst, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Kiefer Sutherland

35 wins & 95 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Kirsten Dunst	...	Justine
Charlotte Gainsbourg	...	Claire
Alexander Skarsgård	...	Michael
Brady Corbet	...	Tim
Cameron Spurr	...	Leo
Charlotte Rampling	...	Gaby
Jesper Christensen	...	Little Father
John Hurt	...	Dexter
Stellan Skarsgård	...	Jack
Udo Kier	...	Wedding Planner
Kiefer Sutherland	...	John
James Cagnard	...	Michael's Father
Deborah Fronko	...	Michael's Mother
Charlotta Miller	...	Betty 1
Claire Miller	...	Betty 2

Storyline

On the night of her wedding, Justine (Kirsten Dunst) is struggling to be happy even though it should be the happiest day of her life. It was an extravagant wedding paid for by her sister and brother-in-law who are trying to keep the bride and all the guests in line. Meanwhile, Melancholia, a blue planet, is hurtling towards the Earth. Claire (Charlotte Gainsbourg), Justine's sister, is struggling to maintain composure with fear of the impending disaster.

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Plot Keywords:

depression | sister sister relationship | golf course | end of the world | suicide | 

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Taglines:

It will change everything.

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Genres:

Drama | Sci-Fi

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for some graphic nudity,sexual content and language

Did You Know?

Trivia

There is no dialogue for the first nine minutes and twenty-five seconds of this movie.

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Goofs

The speed at which Melancholia is said to recede from the earth is incredibly slow (but necessary for it to make a U-turn). At such speed, it shouldn't have enough kinetic energy to clear the orbit of Mars, and will have been a constant feature of our solar system, easily spotted in the sky since forever.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Michael: Sir. Eh...
[looking backward]
Michael: Yeah, you're good. You can back up a little more, if you want. I think you need the... I think you need that extra...
Justine: [laughing] I don't think he can hear you.
Michael: Sir. Sir, can you hear me up there?
[fiddling with controls]
Michael: Do you copy, sailor? He's in a different county, I think that's...
Justine: [laughing]

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Connections

Referenced in Ebert Presents: At the Movies: Episode #2.18 (2011)

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Soundtracks

Strangers in the Night
(Ivo Robic)
© UNIVERSAL/MCA MUSIC SCANDINAVIA AB
(P) ZENTROPA MUSIC ApS

User Reviews

helplessness

I've never seen anything so painfully familiar. Every move of Justine, her every word echoes with the heartache of a melancholiac. And the inability of the others to understand this pain, their inability to feel it and understand - it only makes it more familiar to the ones drowning in this mute slow-motion everyday despair. After watching this movie I went home without saying a word, I sat down on my chair and sat there silently for about an hour. I like Lars von Trier, I liked his movies before, but this one was a headshot. In this one film Lars von Trier succeeded to show all the ultimate emptiness of the everyday rituals, the endless longing of a melancholiac and the unbearable helplessness of this condition - like a bulletproof glass cocoon around you, muting the sounds and making the colors dim. I vote "excellent", 'cause this film is closer to my heart than any other I've seen before.

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook Official site

Country:

Denmark Sweden France Germany

Language:

English

Release Date:

26 May 2011 (Denmark)

Also Known As:

Melancholia

Filming Locations:

Sweden

Box Office

Budget:

$7,400,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$257,174, 13 November 2011

Gross USA:

$3,030,848

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$17,039,814

Company Credits

Production Co:

Zentropa Entertainments, Memfis Film, Zentropa International Sweden

Technical Specs

Runtime:

135 min 130 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1