The film's title, Melancholia, comes from the Greek, referring to a psychologically disordered state of unprovoked depression, usually characterized by pessimism and autism, and is the name of the planet "Yu Xing" in the film.
The film is divided into two parts: the first half is Justin's grand wedding, and the second half is the panic of facing the planet flying past the earth.
The wedding was held in a luxurious castle, and the newlyweds seemed so happy. However, the closer you get to Justin's family, the closer you get to everyone, the cracks gradually unfold. During the lengthy wedding process, Justin began to be distracted, out of order, and typically in a state of depression. He wants to seek support and closeness, but everyone he wants to hug is like hugging broken glass—everyone is too fragile, has too many scars, or the cold-blooded money violence represented by the brother-in-law and the boss will find that, His illness is related to the people around him.
During the second half of the trip, he became seriously ill - lethargic, unconscious and self-isolating, and was cared for by his sister Claire. Also at this time, Yu Xing approached the earth. Here the director uses astronomy in the Western tradition to link disease and astronomy. It's just that at the end of the world this time, the optimistic hero took the lead in taking medicine to commit suicide, and the hero died. On the contrary, the sick Justin appeared and faced the role of a prophet.
What does the director want to express? If you want to connect, it is the disintegration caused by disease and alienation in modern society (reminds me of Susan Sontag's book "Metaphors of Disease", although the book focuses on tuberculosis, cancer and AIDS, in the face of all the Diseases with stigma, maybe we should all look at and reflect from a historical and cultural perspective?); In contrast to the second paragraph, depression hits like a planet without a solution. The director also uses Malay to represent the connection with nature, as well as Kirsten Dunst's naked sun-blur under the light of the stars.
The visuals and music of the title are very impressive, and the preview is like sitting on pins and needles. It is recommended to be mentally prepared to appreciate it. Lars Von Trier once again grasped the incomprehensible but very sharp perspective in human nature.
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