“Melancholia”, directed by the acclaimed Lars Von Trier, is a truly one of a kind film.

The story is told in two acts. Act 1 follows Justine (Kirsten Dunst) around her wedding as she deals with neurotic friends and family. Despite the glamour, it’s obvious that something is not quite right with the melancholy bride. In Act 2, Justine moves in with her sister Claire (Charlotte Gainsbourg) after a mental breakdown. There the family watch a new planet, ‘Melancholia’, swing across the sky, supposedly bypassing Earth.

Cinematography-wise, the film is decidedly maximalist. It plays with what feels like a comprehensive world with many intricacies of wealth scattered amongst the set. The wedding features scenes such as “guests guessing beans in a jar” and “guests floating up paper lanterns”. In a lot of ways it’s gratuitous in length and worldbuilding, and feels reminiscent of the wedding scene from “The Deer Hunter” with the scope of “The Lord Of The Rings”.

The shaky-cam works as a convention of the story; the audience really feels like a part of the world and shares in the growing sense of unease. Add to that an incredible score awash with tension-building strings, the apprehension is almost visceral

What hits hardest about “Melancholia” is the themes. The movie captures anxiety and depression better than any other film I’ve seen, without being too on-the-nose. The sisters play two different sides of mental illness; this is particularly apparent in the second act where Justine seems resigned to her fate while Claire is in a state of panic (acted flawlessly by Gainsbourg).

In my opinion, the contrast between the two acts gives the outsider an illuminating view on poor mental health. Initially, Justine looks unjustified in her erratic, rude behaviour. However when we see her in the second act, she seems most in control. The Sci Fi elements are soft and nuanced throughout, which further empowers the stunning visuals of the looming planet of death threatening all life on earth. And who knows? The planet could just be a metaphor!