Melancholia (the planet) = The antichrist (Spoilers)

OK, first of all, a couple of disclaimers.

Disclaimer 1: I do not speak english, so I will try my best to write something that makes sense.

Disclaimer 2: I'm not saying that the following take or theory is the REAL story behind this movie.

So many movies and TV shows deal about a potential apocalypse (alien invasion, destruction of Earth, evil super villains in comic movies, etc, etc) that while I was watching this movie and thinking how fascinated is the movie community with the end of the world, this alternative theory/explanation creeped into the back of my mind.

OK, here we go.

Melancholia (the planet) = The antichrist: This planet has been hiding behind the sun. The sun represents the Babylonian Sun god and this pagan deity represents Satan, the false angel of light, the bearer of light. At some point, Melancholia reveals itself. The "Sun" unveils its ultimate weapon, the Earth is ready to meet "Melancholia".

When we learn about this planet, most people say that it will "fly-by", so most people are very excited. They see this event as a landmark in human history, after all, Melancholia is benign. At some point, it seems to merely pass very near without striking the Earth. All of the sudden, Melancholia "decides" to reveal its true path, at this point, it's too late.


Kirsten Dunst/Justine = People supporting the antichrist: Justine seems to be a normal person. She is about to get married, she has a job, she wants to live a normal life with her family. However, most of her family turn their back on her. Her husband is actually a simpleton. She is disappointed with humanity.

At some point Justine stops bathing with water (she rejects baptism, maybe?) and starts to take "light showers", she bathes with Melancholia, she embraces Melancholia, she says that humanity is evil and deserves to be exterminated, "no one will miss the Earth".

When her sister tells her that maybe there is life outside the Earth, she denies it. She knows we are alone. She KNOWS. She has insider info. When she sees her hysterical sister near the end, she pretty much tells her that her plan is a piece of...

At this point, we know that she despises humanity and she actually supports Melancholia. When the planet actually is about to destroy the Earth, she is just enjoying the final moments, she looks at her hysterical sister and never hugs her (or her nephew).


Charlotte Gainsbourg/Claire = atheists/agnostics: In the back of her mind, she feels that there is something more about Melancholia. She investigates, she reads, she appears to find actual evidence about "the end of the world", but then she takes Kiefer's word, and while she entertained "believing" she drops the idea when she fails to find "definitive proof".

When she realizes that this is actually the Apocalypse, she collapses. She runs around looking for answers, feeling like its a dream, but it's too late, she doesn't know what to do. Her whole world is collapsing and everything she thought she knew is destroyed. She is not prepared.


Kiefer Sutherland/John = the false prophet: Kiefer keeps telling us that everything is OK. Melancholia is harmless, so everybody should embrace the experience. Claire asks him about the planet, but he calms her by telling her that "the prophets of doom" (religious people, maybe?) don't know what they are talking about, and Science tells us everything is OK.

Ah, but good old Kiefer actually knows what's happening, he knows what Melancholia will do, he has insider info, but when we realize that he's been lying all along, it's too late.


"Little Father" = ... Well, the religious guy actually dissapears in the middle of the movie. The meaning behind this? It might represent fake religious people dissapearing into the night when they should be helping people.


Leo, the kid = ... The kid senses what is actually happening. He builts that little device to see if the planet is actually coming or going. He recognizes the signs, so he is practical, in a sense, he seems prepared to the end. Just a few moments before the impact, he closes his eyes. Maybe he is praying? He always appears clean, so I'm going with Kid = religious people. True believers, not fake religious people like Little Father.


Wait a minute, you might be saying, where is Christ? Why the human race is destroyed by Melancholy? Well, it is a Lars von Trier film, after all .

There's no place for truth on the internet!