The Best Cast Films of 2023 – “Anatomy of a Fall”

“Anatomy of a Fall” — Cynthia Arra

By: Heidi Levitt (“Raymond and Ray,” “The Artist”): In the last decade there has been an emphasis on “real people” casting, meaning casting people who may not be actors but instead are authentic to the story. Watching the brilliantly directed “Anatomy of Fall,” you feel like you are watching “real people” and the essence of each performance feels so true and vulnerable that it could be a documentary. I was on the edge of my couch trying to figure out the truths unfolding in the courtroom and inside their family home nestled in the French Alps. The performances are across the board authentic, and yes, they are actors! I became an observer inside the story witnessing the emotional trauma as it unfolded. 

The leading cast is led by the luminous Sandra Hüller who makes the most complex character shy away from melodrama and instead reveal an interior world that is tormented, fragile, and also sprinkled with levity and love. As I watched I wondered continually, “Could she have done this?” and at the same time I felt torn inside. Her son, played by Milo Machado Granor gives a performance so vulnerable, it reminds me of Jodie Foster’s haunting work in “Taxi Driver.” But, what really blows me away is how all the actors feel like real people, and yet they are actors — skilled actors who disappear into their characters. I only wish more American movies would allow this kind of casting, opening up the process to less recognizable stars and less Hollywood gloss.

Authentic doesn’t mean we can’t cast actors. Wonderful actors are real people too. They are actors who know how to become anyone. Sandra Hüller, who we have seen play so many different roles from comedic to dramatic, is truly that movie star who has the talent to disappear and “act” without ever flaunting it.

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The Best Cast Films of 2023 – IndieWire