Directed by: Lynne Ramsay
Written by: Lynne Ramsay, Enda Walsh and Alice Birch
Run Time: 1 hour 58 mins
Provocative filmmaking is Lynne Ramsay’s bread and butter. Relishing the unspoken and the uncomfortable, We Need to Talk About Kevin (2011) and You Were Never Really Here (2017) exemplify how she’s previously explored the human psyche, often in distressingly close proximity to extreme violence. Her latest film, Die My Love – an adaptation of Ariana Harwicz’s 2012 novel of the same name – once again immerses us in these challenging themes, and in predictably unforgiving fashion too.
The film follows young couple Grace (Jennifer Lawrence) and Jackson (Robert Pattinson) as they relocate from New York City to rural Montana. Grace plans to take advantage of the peace and quiet of her new surroundings for her writing, while Jackson suggests it’s the perfect spot to record an album. However, it isn’t long before the two become a three, with the couple soon welcoming a little baby boy into the fold. Although shortly after his arrival, Grace begins an unnerving descent into madness as she starts to suffer from severe postpartum depression.
Die My Love isn’t all this bleak though, it actually starts off rather hopeful with the chemistry between the young couple proving quite exciting. This continues throughout, with both Jennifer Lawrence and Robert Pattinson excelling as a couple who feel so deeply entwined with one another. Their sex is electric, their fights are fierce and their moments of solace together feel so achingly genuine. And while the film is primarily a showcase for Lawrence, Pattinson gives Jackson impressive dimension – his contemplative pauses, his repeated exasperation, his soft touch – creating a thoroughly lived in and affected character that could easily have been reduced to a more generic spouse in lesser hands.
Of course it is his co-star who demands the majority of the attention, and rightfully so, because Lawrence is utterly fearless. As Grace, a woman in the midst of a mental breakdown, she is fully committed to portraying her incredibly troubled experience. Her performance is equal parts physical and emotional, as she displays Grace’s animalistic like impulses, reacting instinctively in the moment rather than taking time to try and process her feelings. Whether moving forward, or more often than not, round and round in circles she is the driving force behind this piece and it’s the kind of raw, formidable performance that could well steer her to awards glory.
While fantastic in their own right, the cast also benefit from their characters existing in such a rich and textured world. Both the costume and production design feel authentic, while Seamus McGarvey’s detailed cinematography – bolstered by Toni Froschhammer’s wonderful edit – ensures that the film’s aesthetic has the same depth as the narrative. His bursts of colour saturate the day beautifully, but it’s his shots at nighttime that become the most striking. Refreshingly, the darkness of these scenes is rendered with a rare clarity that allows for the visuals to be fully appreciated, while still retaining a dreamlike quality that feels appropriate for Grace’s almost surreal downward spiral into insanity.
Ramsay’s take on her postpartum depression is one that envelops its audience, drawing them in to witness the unpredictable and unforgiving effects of this illness with little regard for their comfort. Sparse moments of tranquility are abruptly disturbed by shocking and visceral violence, while other moments of her screenplay are punctuated with a surprising and effective dark humour. Die My Love never loses sight of the severity of its subject though. It’s a truly all-encompassing experience that demonstrates the magnitude of this powerful and consuming natural force – a statement that also holds true for its phenomenal lead actress.
Star Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★
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