What weighs toward the decision to ignore gravity in Melancholia?

Question

Melancholia is a realistic "what-if" science fiction, set in roughly the time we live in. The whole plot is centered around the concept of this planet approaching. Being what it is, why would they choose to ignore the effects of gravity as the planet approaches?

The moon is a relatively small satellite and is quite far from the Earth, and consider how it influences the tides with the gravity. Now think of a whole big planet that gets increasingly close until it touches Earth and then the movie ends.

In truth if you stop to really consider the effect that would have, it would probably have freed up a whole lot of Earth's mass on the side it was approaching, such that the surface of our planet and much more beneath would have been ejected from the atmosphere, drawn to the approaching planet. Or in the very least, gravity would have been lightened greatly.

But why wouldn't they explore even a grand finale where the characters at least are ejected? I found it terribly unrealistic. Was it a choice of saving on special effects? Didn't the people involved in production even consider the physics of it? Are there interviews done with them surrounding this issue? Or is it a non-issue as far as entertainment is concerned (i.e. it's not relevant in this movie/genre)?

Answer 1

I think your presumption that the film portrays realistic sci-fi may be misplaced. The extensive use of symbolism and prologue scenes suggest that it is allegorical. While I usually agree that having authentic situations or plausible science is important, in this film I found it easy to dismiss with that expectation. There is an analysis of the Justine chapter here that offers you another perspective and may help clarify my reasoning.

Answer 2

In similar fashion, we have no explanation of the motive of the Kirsten Dunst's character to crash her own wedding too. And we have seen the slow-motioned flying objects in the prolongue already so I do not think Lars von Trier tried to save up financially.

I think he tried to focus more on the emotional effect. The sight of the protagonists being swallowed by the approaching blue moon was heartbreaking. Anyway I guess they being helpless in the air would have achieved the same effect but it was wholly the director's aesthetic choice.

Answer 3

I understand that disbelief must be suspended in any movie, but for realistic value, to ignore the atmosphere being sucked away with the gravity is highly overlooked. We would be dead way before it hit us.