MELANCHOLIA

“You don’t really see films about people going through depression because it’s not very cinematic... this really is something I think people need to see.” the star herself expresses.

Part two is Claire’s story, where Melancholia is a planet and it’s headed for Earth. Deemed a fly-by by scientist and her husband John, Claire’s new best friend ‘Google’ says different. So what do you do? What do you do if you believe the world is going to end and you can see it coming, literally. A mother to both her son and Justine, Claire acts how she is supposed to act until the “act” can no longer hold. Here, the audience is really put to the test when forced to watch as a family examines their futile existence when faced with its demise.

“I think it’s like nothing that’s really out there. It’s very special and everyone has a very unique and personal emotional experience with it,” declares Dunst.

Von Trier ('Antichrist', 'Dogville'), a victim of depression himself, handles the film like a true expert, effortlessly conveying that such an illness is often beyond words - it's an idea explored both literally and figuratively in the film. “I know things,” declares Dunst's character during Claire’s journey. Perhaps a line taken from real life, von Trier also knows things and he isn’t afraid to tell his audience. “Life is only on Earth... and not for long” - a chilling line of Justine’s dialogue. Chilling not because of it executor but because of its reality. “The earth is evil. No-one will miss it.” Allow that little nugget to marinate for a minute and you can actually feel the world start to change around you.

Love it or hate it, you’ll walk away affected, asking questions and provoking debates, in the best way possible. Please don’t let this beautiful film slip away unseen.