Lars von Trier, the notorious Danish auteur behind such classics as Dancer in the Dark and more recently Antichrist, has just released the first trailer to his upcoming new film Melancholia, which is slated to have its premiere at this year’s Cannes film festival. The film centers on Kirsten Dunst, whose about to get married as a potential impending apocalypse arises in the shape of another planet on trajectory with Earth, while becoming alienated from her sister played by Charlotte Gainsbourg (who starred in Antichrist). This film also features a fantastic ensemble cast on par with Dogville, including Kiefer Sutherland, Charlotte Rampling, John Hurt, Alexander Skarsgard, Stellan Skarsgard and Udo Kier.
In classical Von Trier style, don’t expect the film to primarily focus on the sci-fi mythos of the cataclysmic stage the twisted filmmaker is setting and instead expect to find something more akin to finding subtle beauty in inevitable doom. Based on the trailer, it seems like the film is part The Celebration, a film made by Thomas Vinterberg as part of Von Trier’s Dogma movement, and part Antichrist with it’s unabashed and haunting slow motion imagery. Whereas Malick wants to focus on The Tree of Life, Von Trier is clearly more interested in The Tree of Death and I can’t wait to see what demented surprises this film has in store. Check out the trailer below via the official site.
Justine (Dunst) and Michael (Skarsgård) are celebrating their marriage at a party in the home of her sister (Gainsbourg) and brother-in-law. Meanwhile, the planet Melancholia, is heading towards Earth…
Melancholia is expected to premiere at the Cannes Film Festival next month.
What do you think of the trailer? Are you a von Trier fan?