Written by Zoe Crombie

It can feel unfair to quantify a film as being ‘smart’ sometimes. After all, like people, aren’t films intelligent in a myriad of different ways that can’t really be compared? Can the emotional complexities of a film like Past Lives be fairly juxtaposed with the puzzle at the heart of a Hitchcock movie? Maybe not, but sometimes it’s the best word in our toolkit to emphasise the maturity and insight that certain films bring to the table, and it’s certainly hard to describe this week’s film in any other terms.

The fourth feature film of arthouse filmmaker Justine Triet, Anatomy of a Fall is an exceptionally sharp work that makes perfect sense as the movie to elevate its director to international acclaim. Unravelling the mystery of a man’s unexpected death and his widow’s determination to prove her innocence, this is a tense courtroom drama that’s as equally effective in unpacking relationship dynamics in the 21^st century as it is in crafting a memorable legal thriller. All of this is anchored on the impressive performance of Sandra Hüller, who brings a direct yet nuanced take on the maligned woman at the centre of the chaos.

Anatomy of a Fall is one of the most talked about films of the year, sure to be a serious Oscar contender, and you won’t want to miss it’s UK debut if you’re craving some genuinely thought provoking cinema.