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Melancholia

Melancholia

Drama · Science Fiction · 2011

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

Movie details

Melancholia

“It will change everything.”

2011 Drama · Science Fiction 2h 16m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

7.1 / 10

Community rating

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

CriticWise case file

What this film says about your taste.

Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.

The archetype split

Who fights over Melancholia?

The split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.

Taste neighbourhood

Nearby on the taste map.

TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.

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Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

Lars von Trier

Written by

Lars von Trier

Kirsten Dunst

Kirsten Dunst

Justine

Charlotte Gainsbourg

Charlotte Gainsbourg

Claire

Kiefer Sutherland

Kiefer Sutherland

John

Alexander Skarsgård

Alexander Skarsgård

Michael

Cameron Spurr

Cameron Spurr

Leo

Stellan Skarsgård

Stellan Skarsgård

Jack

John Hurt

John Hurt

Dexter

Court is in session

Put Melancholia on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

The defence The Auteur Devotee

“Form is the argument.”

Every composed frame and deliberate cut is evidence that control can be thrilling in its own right.

The prosecution The Popcorn Loyalist

“Technique in search of a pulse.”

Immaculate construction is still construction. The film may be too busy proving its craft to feel alive.