Is Anatomy Of A Fall Based On A True Story?

The structure, details, and unravelling narrative of Anatomy of a Fall all point to the possibility that the Oscar-nominated film is based on a true story. Directed by Justine Triet, Anatomy of a Fall tells the story of Sandra Voyter (Sandra Hüller), a German writer living in France who is accused of murdering her husband, Samuel, after he falls out of a window and is found dead by their blind son, Daniel. The courtroom drama follows Sandra’s trial, as new details of the case are gradually revealed and certain narratives are spun to make a case.

As a whole, Anatomy of a Fall is reminiscent of a true-crime case. The film is critical of how the legal system uses selective facts to construct narratives and create fictionalized versions of real people’s lives. The blurred lines between reality and fiction are a core theme of Anatomy of a Fall, which adds an intriguing layer to the question of the story’s origins. The courtroom setting, reminiscence of true crime, and ambiguity of Anatomy of a Fall’s ending all contribute to the illusion that the film could be based on a true story.

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Anatomy Of A Fall Is Not Based On A True Story

The plot of the film is an original idea

Despite its semblance of the true crime genre, Anatomy of a Fall is not based on a true story. The plot was an original idea constructed by Triet alongside her partner, Arthur Harari, with whom she co-wrote the screenplay. Triet and Harari’s brilliant writing of Anatomy of a Fall earned them an Oscar nomination for Best Original Screenplay at the 2024 Oscars. Triet is also nominated for Best Director, becoming only the eighth female director nominated for the Best Director Oscar in history.

The plot of Anatomy of a Fall may not be derived from true events, but the essence of the film is still rooted in real-life cases. Triet revealed that Anatomy of a Fall was heavily influenced by the true-crime stories she reads “on an almost daily basis“ (via The Hollywood Reporter). Triet was also inspired by trial-centered movies and shows and “always thought [she]’d do a film with a trial at the heart of the story” one day.

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Sandra Hüller Inspired The Making Of Anatomy Of A Fall

Justine Triet wrote the lead role specifically for Sandra Hüller

While true crime and courtroom dramas inspired the basic premise of the film, Hüller actually inspired the creation of her character in Anatomy of a Fall and the film as a whole. After first seeing Hüller act in Maren Ade’s 2016 film Toni Erdmann, Triet told THR she was “so impressed” by her as an actress that she decided to cast Hüller in her 2019 film, Sibyl. Triet “immediately connected to the relationship that [Hüller] has to her acting,” and was inspired by her “artistic approach” and “deep commitment, even physically, to what she does.“

During the shooting of Sibyl, Triet decided to create a role specifically for Hüller to play. As she began conceptualizing what would eventually become Anatomy of a Fall, the French director realized she’d have to figure out how to navigate the “question of language” presented by the German actress’ native tongue. Ultimately, Triet decided to embrace the conflict that Hüller’s language barrier presented by incorporating it into the plot and making it a crucial element of the story. Without Hüller, Anatomy of a Fall would never have existed.