‘Die My Love’ Review: Jennifer Lawrence Delivers a Career-Best Turn

Die My Love is a bold and unflinching look at postpartum depression.

The films of director Lynne Ramsay aren’t known for being warm and fuzzy. Her latest film, Die My Love, stars Jennifer Lawrence in a career-best performance. This film sheds light on postpartum depression in a way that hasn’t been seen on the big screen before. The film manages to be bold, funny, and often harrowing, despite an uneven and occasionally meandering abstract narrative.

Die My Love begins with a young couple, Grace (Lawrence) and Jackson (Robert Pattinson), moving to an isolated Montana home in search of an escape from the city. Soon after having their son, Grace begins to struggle with feelings of isolation and postpartum depression, spinning into a state of psychosis.

Jennifer Lawrence Gives One of Her Best Performances

Lawrence’s performance as Grace is easily one of the best she’s ever given. As she has entered a more mature phase of her career following the success of Hunger Games and X-Men, Lawrence is willing to portray herself in a raw and human way.

A Fragmented Story Told Through Vignettes

Grace’s struggle with seclusion and unhappiness is one that a lot of people can relate to, even if her struggles are much more extreme. There’s a rawness and unpredictability to Grace that is both physical and emotional. One moment, she’s caring for her baby in the most motherly of ways, the next, she’s crawling through a field on all fours with a huge cutting knife in hand.

She gives in to violent and nonsensical urges that we all sometimes feel but have the restraint to avoid. This causes the narrative to sometimes be a bit too abstract, making it difficult to decipher what’s literally happening and what may only be in Grace’s head.

The film is presented in a series of vignettes rather than one cohesive story. The fragmented narrative is overall positive and helps establish the claustrophobia and emotional break that Grace is experiencing. That being said, it doesn’t always work. Some of the moments meander a little too far, and the backstory is hinted at but not always fully explored.

Dark Humor Balances the Film’s Heavier Moments

While much of the subject matter is heavy, it’s often humorous. An exchange between Grace and a convenience store clerk had me laughing out loud as Grace expressed feelings that we’ve all experienced when not feeling particularly social. These moments matter because they keep the experience from becoming overwhelmingly bleak.

Robert Pattinson and Sissy Spacek Add Heart and Depth

Pattinson is great in more limited screen time as Jackson. He plays the husband and father who is often not present due to work demands. Sissy Spacek is also memorably strong as Jackson’s aging mother, who is dealing with struggles of her own connected to loss and aging.

Verdict

Die My Love is certainly not going to be an audience pleaser. However, it should still be celebrated for highlighting a mental state that many women experience but rarely see portrayed. Lawrence’s performance is incredible and deserves attention from film fans.