What’s more romantic than proving you didn’t kill your lover?
A live reading of Justine Triet’s Oscar-nominated crime drama “Anatomy of a Fall” is taking over Valentine’s Day 2024 courtesy of Neon and Film Independent. Emmy-nominated actress Riley Keough portrays Sandra, the aforementioned “Basic Instinct”-esque supposed murderer whom Sandra Hüller plays in the feature.
Hüller is nominated for Best Actress, with the feature up for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, and Best Editing at the 2024 Oscars. The film is additionally in the race for Best International Film at the upcoming Film Independent Spirit Awards.
Writer/director Justine Triet hosts the in-person live reading with the American cast, led by Keough. The live-reading cast is rounded out by Jay Ellis who plays Sandra’s (deceased) husband Samuel, Kate Berlant as their son Daniel (in a gender swap), and Bob Odenkirk as Sandra’s “hot” lawyer Vincent. “Top Gun: Maverick” actor Danny Ramirez, “Winning Time” breakout Quincy Isaiah, and actress/director Olivia Wilde round out the ensemble. The actual “Anatomy of a Fall” dog Snoop will be in-person for the live reading as well.
The official event description and film synopsis courtesy of Film Independent reads: “After Sandra’s husband is found dead by their son, Daniel, and their dog, Snoop, Sandra becomes the main suspect. Is she innocent, or just an extremely manipulative and convincing liar? And was her husband an innocent victim, or just so consumed with jealousy over his wife’s career and infidelities that he took his own life? Bring your friend, lover, spouse or side-piece on a Valentine’s Day date to remember, as we travel from the snowy Alps to the steamy courtroom.”
Tickets for the “Anatomy of a Fall” live reading are $30 for Film Independent members and $40 for the general public.
Academy Award-nominated “Anatomy of a Fall” director Triet previously told IndieWire’s Anne Thompson that despite questioning Sandra’s innocence as the crux of the film, Triet told star Hüller to try to not emote guilt onscreen.
“I didn’t want to close everything and to say ‘OK, you never did anything,’ because if I tell you that it would have concerned the possibility of the danger of the situation,” Triet said. “It would be for her very safe. I wanted to keep a place where danger is, to keep the danger alive. Maybe more interesting than her culpability is the way that she as an actress is going to come in and incorporate.” ”
Triet continued, “It’s a cliché role of the accused woman being duplicitous who has a masterful deceit, which is another character function that she could fulfill. It was to stay away from these kinds of manipulations. [Instead, it’s best to show] the contradictions that do arise from the ambiguity and ambivalences of experience, and not out of a wicked wink-in-the-eye whodunit?”
