Cinematic Depression: How Lars von Trier Distorts Time & Space in 'Melancholia'

Film is an art form in which time and space are its main sources of expression, but what happens when these concepts are distorted through the lens of depression?

One film that explores this warping of reality is Lars von Trier's Melancholia, a film that is basically the cinematic form of depression and anxiety. Evan Puschak, also known as The Nerdwriter, digs into how the Dutch director represents this mental disorder in the film's protagonist, Justine (Kirsten Dunst), by using cinematic techniques to give viewers distorted senses of time and space.

Lao Tsu famously said that if one is depressed they're living in the past, and if they're anxious they're living in the future. It's only when they're living in the present that they find peace. Now, even though this is a simplistic, anecdotal way to describe not just one, but two very complex and shockingly misunderstood disorders, it does offer a framework for contextualizing the themes in Melancholia.

Read More

from No Film School http://ift.tt/1RLHl6U