Messi, the dog who plays Snoop in 'Anatomy of a Fall,' and his trainer Laura Martin joined The Hollywood Reporter to reveal how they brought Snoop's near-death scene to life in the Oscar-nominated film.

What type of dog is in the Anatomy of a Fall?

Messi, the handsome Anatomy of a Fall dog, has his own seat at the Oscars. The seven-year-old border collie took his seat at the Academy Awards like the good little boy that he is.

Does anything bad happen to the dog in Anatomy of a Fall?

Does the dog die? No, but the dog is deliberately poisoned at one stage and stops breathing. He is revived and recovers fully.

How did the dog act sick in Anatomy of a Fall?

He had to let his whole body fall to appear inert. I added cries and emotions so that he knows not to move despite the noise. We also worked on set before the famous sick dog sequence, with Milo, so that he learned how to hold it properly.

Was Snoop Dogg harmed in Anatomy of a Fall?

Snoop Lives Despite The Movie's Murder Premise

Saving the dog isn't just an audience-pleasing move; it's a crucial thematic decision. One of Anatomy of a Fall's best characters, Snoop doesn't completely steer clear of the drama at hand.

Behind the Scene: How the Dog from 'Anatomy of a Fall' Learned to Play Dead on Screen

Is Daniel in Anatomy of a Fall blind?

Daniel is partially blind, and much of the film is shown from his perspective. Like his learning of the piano, he has had to develop a keen sense of hearing, called into question by his own changing testimony and belief in his mother's innocence.

Why does Daniel poison the dog in Anatomy of a Fall?

In the film, Sandra Hüller's novelist Sandra is accused of murdering her husband by pushing him off a balcony. Their son Daniel (Milo Macado-Graner) engages in an experiment that might help exonerate his mother — but it means purposely poisoning Snoop.

Why did Daniel give his dog aspirin in Anatomy of a Fall?

In the film, young Daniel (Milo Machado-Graner) feeds Snoop, his guide dog, a handful of aspirin to see if Snoop gets sick and passes out, like he did when he accidentally ate Daniel's father Samuel's (Samuel Theis) vomit years ago.

Was the wife guilty in Anatomy of a Fall?

At the end of Anatomy of a Fall, Sandra is acquitted, although the facts of the case still aren't entirely clear, making the true cause of Samuel's death ambiguous.

Who killed Samuel in Anatomy of a Fall?

The beauty of Anatomy of a Fall is that by the end we, the audience, don't know conclusively whether Sandra (Sandra Hüller – who is nominated for the Best Actress Oscar) killed Samuel (Samuel Theis) or not. Triet wouldn't tell Huller on set whether she thought Sandra was guilty or innocent either.

Did Sandra do it in Anatomy of a Fall?

Sandra is absolved and Anatomy of a Fall ends, and yet the main question still doesn't seem to have a clear answer. Not even actress Sandra Hüller knows for sure, although that wasn't an obstacle for her Oscar-nominated performance.

Is Anatomy of a Fall a true story?

Despite the somewhat familiarity of the story in Anatomy of a Fall, the French movie is not based on a true story. But while the characters are fictional, Triet expressed in a 2023 interview with The Hollywood Reporter that she drew inspiration from true crime stories.

What happened at the end of Anatomy of a Fall?

And similar to the 1959 movie, “Anatomy of a Fall” does come to a conclusion, in a way, at least in the courtroom. A verdict is delivered. The Palme d'Or winner at this year's Cannes Film Festival, the film ends with the character of Sandra (Sandra Hüller) being acquitted for the murder of her husband.

Was Daniel Lying in Anatomy of a Fall?

Anatomy of a Fall's ending, analysed

But if you were to ask this writer, I'd say it's fairly obvious that Sandra did not murder her husband, and that Daniel – seeing that things were not looking great for his mother – lied in his testimony to help her suicide theory.

Was Vincent in love with Sandra?

Similarly, she told Arlaud that Vincent was previously in love with Sandra, which forced the actor to balance his character's past feelings with his role as her lawyer. Triet said this was helpful because actors want to “defend their part.”

How did Daniel lose his sight in Anatomy of a Fall?

All of this plays out in front of Sandra's 11-year-old son Daniel (Milo Machado Graner). Daniel suffered optic nerve damage after being hit by a motorcyclist at age four — on a day Samuel was supposed to pick him up from school but skipped out and sent a sitter.

Why is the Anatomy of a Fall so good?

The characters feel human, which is what truly shapes this film. It showcases the range of emotions and relationships we have in our lives, and the ways that love can blind us. “Anatomy of a Fall” is a movie I can see myself watching again and again, just to catch the carefully crafted details I might've missed.

What significance did the dog have in the role of death?

They believed the dogs guided the souls of the dead through the underworld. Archaeologists have dug up ceramic dog statues, as well as skeletons, suggesting that ancient people were often buried with their Xolos so they could stay together in the afterlife.

Are French trials like the Anatomy of a Fall?

And similarly in France, a judicial investigation like we saw in the film happens in only around one to two percent of cases. What we see in Anatomy of a Fall is very much that rarefied ideal of criminal justice.

How old is Daniel supposed to be in Anatomy of a Fall?

This unassuming statement, spoken by the 11-year-old Daniel (Milo Machado-Graner) in director Justine Triet's courtroom drama “Anatomy of a Fall,” perfectly captures the film's thesis: the truth about relationships is murky and elusive, and it can't really be understood by those who aren't a part of it.

Is the trial in Anatomy of a Fall realistic?

The Oscar-nominated drama 'Anatomy of a Fall' is an only mostly realistic portrait of the funnily dressed, anything-goes nature of French courts, according to a French criminal justice expert.

Can the boy in Anatomy of a Fall see?

Anatomy of a Fall, Justine Triet's Palme d'Or-winning courtroom drama, is arguably the best film of the year. It definitely has the most fascinating performance. Sandra Hüller plays a successful writer married to an unsuccessful writer. They have a son who lost his vision after an accident (the husband was at fault).