Directed by Lars Von Trier and starring an ensemble cast including Kirsten Dunst, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Kiefer Sutherland, Charlotte Rampling, John Hurt, Alexander Skarsgard, Stellan Skarsgard and Udo Kier, MELANCHOLIA has been picked up for release in North America by Magnolia Pictures. Von Trier describes it as a beautiful movie about the end of the world, but our boss Todd describes it as self absorbed and hollow. I guess you just have to see the film to decide for yourself.
Anyway, here's the director's statement from the official website, which you may find interesting:
It was like waking from a dream: my producer showed me a suggestion for a poster. "What is that?" I ask. "It's a film you've made!" she replies. "I hope not," I stammer. Trailers are shown ... stills ... it looks like shit. I'm shaken.
Don't get me wrong ... I've worked on the film for two years. With great pleasure. But perhaps I've deceived myself. Let myself be tempted. Not that anyone has done anything wrong ... on the contrary, everybody has worked loyally and with talent toward the goal defined by me alone. But when my producer presents me with the cold facts, a shiver runs down my spine.
This is cream on cream. A woman's film! I feel ready to reject the film like a wrongly transplanted organ.
But what was it I wanted? With a state of mind as my starting point, I desired to dive headlong into the abyss of German romanticism. Wagner in spades. That much I know. But is that not just another way of expressing defeat? Defeat to the lowest of cinematic common denominators? Romance is abused in all sorts of endlessly dull ways in mainstream products.
And then, I must admit, I have had happy love relationships with romantic cinema ... to name the obvious: Visconti!
German romance that leaves you breathless. But in Visconti, there was always something to elevate matters beyond the trivial ... elevate it to masterpieces!
I am confused now and feel guilty. What have I done?
Is it 'exit Trier?' I cling to the hope that there may be a bone splinter amid all the cream that may, after all, crack a fragile tooth ... I close my eyes and hope!
Lars von Trier, Copenhagen, April 13, 2011.
Embedded below is the US Trailer.
Video
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