Die My Love

I've watched this movie alone in cinema. I'm not expecting anything at all. But the movie delivered interesting plot and great acting from lead but it quite not brought that exciting part I kind of thought it needed. It was really cinematic but not engaging. I don't know but critic's review is somewhat different to public viewing's opinion about it. I managed to finish the movie and not leaving even though some viewers at the cinema already left just not half of the movie was over. But the movie for me, tackled depression and the state of coping about loss. It was average, but not for me on the first watch. Maybe on the second watch it'll grow and will also unravel some keys to my questions but indeed this movie is really not for everyone.

"Die My Love" follows young couple Grace and Jackson (Jennifer Lawrence and Robert Pattinson), who relocate to Jackson's rural hometown in Montana for a new start. The couple soon welcome the birth of a son, but their relationship splinters as Grace descends into severe mental illness, while an often emotionally-absent Jackson falters in supporting her.

This emotionally exhausting film by Lynne Ramsay (no stranger to darkness) is a psychological rollercoaster that, despite lacking in some exposition, is no less an effective, turbulent, and abstract journey into one individual's mental decline. Many have characterized this film as one about postpartum depression, but I believe this is both an oversimplification and a mischaracterization. As someone whose lifelong best friend has suffered from inconsistently-medicated bipolar disorder for decades, I found that this film succinctly illustrated exactly what this disorder looks like to a level that is uncanny. Grace's temperament and actions throughout reminded me so much of my friend that I found the film at times extremely difficult to watch.

In terms of story, "Die My Love" is fairly sparse. The film mostly consists of a push-and-pull, a chaotic dance between Grace and Jackson that is both exasperating and occasionally touching. There remains a clear sense that, despite their respective flaws and problems, the two deeply care for each other; however, there is a vortex in the room consuming Grace that goes unchecked for far too long. Grace's reality is entirely obfuscated by her illness, while a distracted Jackson is ill-equipped to be a source of legitimate support. His mother, Pam (Sissy Spacek), who is experiencing her own grief, seems to intuitively recognize the emotional forces that are consuming Grace, but her efforts also remain limited due to a number of interpersonal family dynamics.

The storytelling here employs nonlinear and abstract tactics that are, for the most part, effective. I do think it suffers from a lack of exposition, as the audience gets no real sense of who these people were before Grace's decline. Instead, we are dropped into their lives at the precipice of all this turmoil. A few details about Grace's past eventually emerge near the film's conclusion, but it feels like a case of "too little, too late." Perhaps this was done intentionally so as to mimic the unpredictable, hard-and-fast progression of some mental illnesses, but I still felt as though there was an undergirding to the two leads characters that was sorely missed. Despite this, both Lawrence and Pattinson's performances are outstanding, and Spacek serves as a warm (albeit often helpless) maternal figure between the two.

There is a repetitive nature to the events that unfold as the film hurls toward its conclusion which some may find a slog to get through (and I do think it could have benefitted from some slight editing), but I mainly found it a slog because it was a painful and dispiriting viewing experience. Given my experiences with Ramsay's other films, I expected this, but it hit me harder because it brought up many personal memories. Despite what flaws it may have, as an emotional portrait, it is a real gut-punch of a film. 7/10.

'Die My Love' is an emotionally charged tale that follows a woman's slow descent into postpartum psychosis. Lawrence plays Grace, a new mother and writer, while Robert Pattinson co-stars as Jackson, Grace's partner. The movie is based on Ariana Harwicz's novel of the same name.

As well as being unconventional, this movie is a slow burn. There are long periods of tedium, punctuated by moments of deep intensity that literally shock the viewer into a sudden state of alertness. This is part of what makes 'Die My Love' work so well. I say this because there are times where, as a viewer, you almost get lulled into a false sense of security. But before you can get too comfortable, the plot takes an unexpected turn, and you quickly become engaged with the story again. Black humour is also used selectively to break the tension, which works well.

The overall mood of the film is one of mystery and unease. Being set in rural Montana adds to the mystery. A lot of the scenes occur in the family home Grace and Jackson share. That the house is in the middle of nowhere adds to Grace's sense of isolation, which only serves to compound her psychosis. Having the bulk of the scenes in the family home creates a sense of immediacy and also provides a solid foundation for the story. It also provides context for other scenes in the film.

One thing I liked about the story is that sometimes you aren't always sure what's real and what's only happening in Grace's mind. This added an element of mystery that I found compelling. And while it made the plot complicated, it was authentic. Madness is not linear, so it makes sense for the film to portray madness in a non-linear fashion.

Thanks to the direction of Lynne Ramsey, the viewer gets a harrowing window into what it's like to experience postpartum psychosis. The editing has also been done well too. With a plot that jumps around quite a bit, the different elements of the story are weaved together skilfully.

Lawrence plays her role with nuance and a raw intensity. One minute she is glassy eyed and looking off into nowhere. The next she is apparently lucid and calm, or is otherwise oblivious to her surroundings and the chaos and confusion for which she is responsible.

Pattinson delivers a compelling performance as a partner doing his best to make what he has with Grace and their child work.

Together, Pattinson's and Lawrence's performances combine to highlight the inner workings of a relationship that, while not loveless, is truly dysfunctional.

There's a great supporting cast too. Sissy Spacek plays the role of Jackson's Mum, Pam. While Pam appears well intentioned, ultimately, she isn't really sure what to do. Then there is Nick Nolte who plays Harry. Nolte does well in his nuanced portrayal of an old man who, despite his confusion, still has feelings he wants to express.

The film also features a really good soundtrack with a wide variety of music, including some heavy rock and industrial tunes. There are also some more upbeat tracks like 'Hey Mickey', which adds a moment of humour. Also in the mix are some acoustic numbers. The heavy numbers meld perfectly with the chaotic events occurring on screen, while the acoustic songs help to slow the pace. They also bring an element of melancholy to the story.

The cinematography has been done well too, with several scenes taking place at night, as well as others that occur at low light. This helps to create the film's dark mood and also heightens the sense of loneliness Grace is experiencing. There are also some great scenes shot in a field of tall grass that, while elegantly simple, also show the emotions Grace and Jackson are going through.

Another thing I really liked about the film was its use of symbolism to explore the theme of letting go of one's past. That this theme is communicated symbolically through visual effects - rather than through dialogue - is much more powerful. It also provides the story with a lot more depth.

I also liked the character development that came through in Pattinson's and Lawrence's performances. Despite many difficult situations and some really intense moments their characters share, I felt a degree of empathy for both of them.

Part dark psychological thriller, part black comedy, 'Die My Love' is a unique story that in some ways is elegantly simple, yet also uniquely complex. Pattinson and Lawrence deliver stellar performances, with Pattinson doing a fantastic job of portraying a frustrated partner who, despite everything, still cares about his family.

Then there is Lawrence, who continues to showcase her diverse range. She can do it all. From playing characters like the ballerina turned spy in 'Red Sparrow', to a down on her luck uber driver struggling to pay her property taxes in 'No Hard Feelings', Lawrence demonstrates her ability to work across genres with great skill. She was also one of the producers on this film, so is clearly multi-talented.

I knew this type of movie would be for me, but I also understand it's a very niche genre. I think to some level, you have to understand what she's going through to appreciate it. I didn't suffer PPD, but my husband and I were in a car accident that almost killed me and took the life of our 19yr old daughter. We had only just moved to a new state for a fresh start 2mos prior. The year after the accident, I became isolated, depressed, and started to lose it, much in the same as she did. My husband still had to work and provide for me and our other children since I was injured and broken mentally. She literally was living out my intrusive thoughts in the movie. Maybe my situation made it hit close to home and appreciate seeing that on the screen. It also made me feel for my husband who had the weight of the world on his shoulders while grieving and losing me at the same time. My husband and I have been separated for awhile and I don't blame him. The story plays out much like a fractured mind, it's all over the place, but that's the most honest way to depict the story. Despite some negative reviews, I loved it and am glad this movie exists. The performances were amazing, especially Jennifer's. I hope she gets another Oscar for this.

Its truly a sad story about postpartum. Its something that isn't talked about enough and does happen. This was on the deep end of the pool in my opinion and the whole movie is just weird, depression or not. Too much went into the shots that it kinda took away from the story a bit in my opinion. Thats weird for me to say because I normally love that. Throwing in the dog and the disrespect from the husband didn't help add to her postpartum depression, of course she was. Why was that never focused on? Overall this sad movie was good catching emotions and the pain. It just wasn't for me and the movie felt long.

Watched at AMC with Heather on 11-9-2025.