Today we’re talking about a film I got to check out early thanks to the kind folks over at MUBI, and that’s Die My Love, directed by Lynne Ramsay. The film stars Jennifer Lawrence, Robert Pattinson, Lakeith Stanfield, and more.
When I first saw the poster for this movie and the names attached, I was immediately interested. I didn’t watch the trailer or read a synopsis. I knew it was based on a book, but I went in completely blind. It’s been getting attention on the festival circuit and early screenings, so I was excited to see what it was all about.
The story follows Grace and Jackson, a couple relocating from New York City to Jackson’s rural childhood home in Montana in search of a quieter life. But after Grace gives birth, the isolation and demands of motherhood begin to take their toll, and what starts as a peaceful new beginning slowly becomes a descent into mental unrest.
This is the kind of movie that’s going to really depend on the viewer. As someone who appreciates strong filmmaking, I was pulled in immediately by the cinematography and the sound design. It’s a quiet film with very little music—there are a few needle drops and subtle score moments, but mostly it relies on silence. It puts you in Grace’s mindset, surrounded by this vast and lonely environment that makes you feel exactly what she’s feeling.
It reminded me a lot of a film I reviewed last year called Nightbitch with Amy Adams. Both stories explore similar territory: motherhood, isolation, and the feeling of losing yourself in the process of caring for someone else. That loss of identity, that lack of spontaneity and excitement, and the fading connection with a partner—it’s all here. And much like Nightbitch, Die My Love is the kind of film that some will connect to deeply, while others might find it too slow or too abstract.
At its core, it’s about a woman who feels like she’s disappearing into the role of a mother. She’s reaching out for the intimacy and spark she once had with her husband, but it’s gone. He’s working all day, he’s tired, and that passion that once fueled their relationship has fizzled out. It’s frustrating to watch at times because you can feel her trying so hard to hold on to herself while everything around her feels dull and distant.
Jennifer Lawrence gives an incredible performance here. She really captures the emotional numbness and the self-destructive impulse that comes with depression. While I obviously can’t relate to postnatal depression personally, I can relate to the feeling of being stuck in your own mind—wanting to feel something, anything, just to break the numbness. She brings that to life in such a believable way.
The filmmaking overall is great. The cinematography, lighting, and production design are all top-notch. The film looks beautiful and feels incredibly real. The performances across the board are solid, but Jennifer Lawrence is the heart of it all. Still, despite how well-made it is, I found myself disconnected from the story as a whole.
This is a movie that leans more into artistic interpretation than traditional storytelling. It’s filled with metaphor and symbolism, which can work if the narrative still gives you something to hold onto—but here it often feels like style outweighs substance. I appreciated the craft, but I didn’t always feel emotionally invested in what was happening.
Robert Pattinson does a good job, though his character is pretty underwritten. He starts off passionate but quickly becomes distant, and the movie doesn’t do much to explore that shift. Lakeith Stanfield also shows up, but his role is small and underused, which is disappointing given his talent.
By the end, I was left thinking about how the film made me feel rather than what it actually said. I recognized its power and what it was trying to communicate, but it didn’t pull me in as deeply as I wanted it to. I think for people who have gone through postpartum depression or felt that kind of emotional disconnection, this film will probably hit hard. For others, it might feel slow, meandering, and maybe even frustrating.
For me, Die My Love is a well-made film that showcases strong performances and great direction, but one that doesn’t fully deliver on its emotional potential. It’s not a bad movie by any means, but it’s also not one that’s going to stick with me long-term. Still, I can see it resonating deeply with people who relate to what it’s portraying.
Rating: 5.5/10