(2011) Melancholia

Melancholia is a 2011 science-fiction drama-psychological thriller film written and directed by Lars von Trier and starring Kirsten Dunst, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Alexander Skarsgård, Cameron Spurr, and Kiefer Sutherland. The film's story revolves around two sisters, one of whom is preparing to marry, as a rogue planet is about to collide with Earth. Von Trier's initial inspiration for the film came from a depressive episode he suffered and the insight that depressed people have a tendency to remain peaceful during catastrophic events. The film is a Danish production by Zentropa, with international co-producers in Sweden, France, and Germany. Filming took place in Sweden.

Melancholia prominently features music from the prelude to Richard Wagner's opera Tristan und Isolde (1857–59). It is the second entry in von Trier's unofficially titled "Depression Trilogy", preceded by Antichrist and followed by Nymphomaniac.

Melancholia premiered 18 May 2011 at the 64th Cannes Film Festival–where it was critically lauded. Dunst received the festival's Best Actress Award for her performance, which was a common area of praise among critics. Although not without its detractors, many critics and film scholars have considered the film to be a masterpiece.

The film begins with an introductory sequence involving the main characters and images from space and introducing many of the film's visual leitmotifs. These are motifs of virtually still images revealing the key elements of the film: Justine the bride in deep melancholy with birds falling behind her; of a lawn with trees and sundial with two different shadows; Pieter Breughel's Hunters in the Snow (often used as interpretation of an idealised nostalgia) burning; the non existent 19th hole, and the Black Horse collapsing catastrophically in slow motion; Justine as a bride being swept along by a river; and her being held back by her wedding dress; and finally Justine and her nephew building their magic cave before the Earth crashes into Melancholia.