INTRODUCTION
This is a quick review of the newly released film Die My Love. Please note that this is just one of the many movies I will have watched each year, and my initial grade for this film may change over time, for better or worse. To stay up to date on my thoughts about other movies and any potential changes in my opinion on this one, follow me on Letterboxd.
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PLOT
Via Letterboxd: Grace and Jackson move into an old house deep in the country. With ambitions to write The Great American Novel, Grace settles into her new environment, and the couple soon welcome a child. However, with Jackson frequently, and suspiciously, absent, and the pressures of domestic life starting to weigh on her, Grace begins to unravel, leaving a path of destruction in her wake.
REVIEW
Not being one of those filmmakers known for a prolific output, Lynne Ramsay has finally returned with her first feature in nearly a decade; and to put a cherry on top, it’s a film backed and produced by none other than Martin Scorsese. The film, Die My Love, is based on the novel by Ariana Harwicz, though this adaptation relocates the story from France to the U.S., with Jennifer Lawrence and Robert Pattinson starring as the lead couple, Grace and Jackson.
The film’s central theme slams you in the face like a concrete wall within minutes; this is a story about postpartum depression and how it devastates a woman’s marriage and sense of self. Lawrence plays Grace, who’s depressed, clearly battling mental health issues, and super horny for a husband who seems unable to connect with her current state. Pattinson’s Jackson comes off as a well-meaning but aloof, seemingly at his wits’ end as his wife’s mental state spirals.
I’ll admit upfront that I watched this film as a soon-to-be parent, and perhaps that colored my reaction. Its depiction of the darker sides of new parenthood definitely put me in a sour mood at times. I also watched it as a man who will never know what it’s like to experience postpartum depression firsthand, and I suspect many women who have gone through it will connect with this in ways male critics and viewers like myself simply can’t and never will. Some aspects of the story also hit a bit too close to home; echoes of things I’ve seen and experienced in my own and others’ marriages, which made it an occasionally tough watch.
From a craft standpoint, Die My Love is undeniably well-made. The direction, cinematography, sound, and soundtrack are all top-notch. The performances are equally strong; Pattinson is excellent, and Lawrence delivers a raw, fearless turn that’s been drawing awards buzz since this film premiered at Cannes. That said, there were moments where her performance felt almost too effusive, pushing just slightly past the point of restraint. Still, there’s no denying her commitment, and several moments genuinely jolted me back into full attention as I slumped in my chair.
My biggest issue lies with the screenplay. As the film goes on, it starts to feel repetitive, indulgent, and, at times, yes, even downright pretentious. Grace’s increasingly erratic behavior becomes numbing after a while, and I found myself checking my watch, wondering if there was going to be anything more to it. By the time the film ends on an ambiguous note, I couldn’t help but think, “So that’s it, huh?”
Ultimately, Die My Love is a character study that aims to explore motherhood, trauma, depression, and the teetering of a marriage; but despite its artistry, I just couldn’t get on its wavelength. From a pure viewing experience, I almost want to give it a C-, but I can’t ignore how well-crafted and well-acted it is. So I’ll settle on a C+.
“TL;DR”
Pros: If you’re tuning into this one just to be reminded of what a great actress Jennifer Lawrence is, you’ll probably like it more than I did (and likely most wider audiences will); It’ll probably resonate more with women who’ve experienced postpartum than it will with some of us male critics and viewers; Features some of the better “needle drops” of the year in movies
Cons: A movie that became super repetitive for me in its depiction of Lawrence’s character’s mental anguish and depression; There were plenty of moments that felt like a slog; Some frustrating character decisions that hit a little too close to home based on things I’ve witnessed and experienced, enough to sour the film for me overall.
GRADING
