Melancholia and the Evolving Cinema

There are two particularly interesting moments in Melancholia, both dealing with inevitability, that posit technological evolution as a questionable agent in the future of cinema. I believe the inclusion of technology will benefit cinema far more than it will harm it. Not only does adapting new technology to the cinema attract more movie-goers, but it also allows us to delve deeper into what film really is and provides us with infinite possibilites to produce meaning. Yes, it will ultimately ruin "cinema" to the common movie-goer, but for those who appreciate film as a form of art will appreciate its worth. The first moment in Melancholia that proves my point, which is a recurring theme, is the bridge. Each time the protagonists attempt to cross the bridge, they are unable to. The first time, Justine's horse becomes disturbed by something about the bridge and refuses to cross. The second time, Claire's golf kart's battery dies and she decides to go back to the mansion, carrying Leo. This sense of unavoidable fate emphasizes our continual drive towards and inescapable reconstruction of film with technology. The last moment I'd like to bring up is the ending scene, in which Justine, Claire, and Leo sit under the "magic cave" and wait for the impending doom. The abruptness of the fiery apocalypse calls attention to how rapidly film is changing. Who knows how long it will be before 3-D films become a thing of the past? Leo represents the ignorant and the innocent--closing his eyes and pretending everything is all right--Claire represents the rebellious and the upset--cowering away from the exploding horizon--and Justine represents the embracers--remaining at peace with the wave of death approaching behind her. While some relate to Claire and interpret this final moment as an end to the cinema, others, including me, relate to Justine and see it as a welcoming to a new unseen era.