Time: 119 Minutes
Age Rating: R16 – Mental health themes, self harm, sex scenes & offensive language
Cast:
Jennifer Lawrence as Grace
Robert Pattinson as Jackson
LaKeith Stanfield as Karl
Nick Nolte as Harry
Sissy Spacek as Pam
Director: Lynne Ramsay

Having previously seen You Were Never Really Here, I was interested when I heard that director Lynne Ramsay was making a new movie, which would also star Jennifer Lawrence and Robert Pattinson. While I saw some split reactions, I thought Die My Love was great.

Die My Love focuses on a woman’s internal struggles with her mental health, depression and sexual frustration and how trapped she is by motherhood, mostly staying in one house. Die My Love focuses on a woman, trapped by motherhood and largely having to stay in a house with her child, while struggling with her mental health, depression and sexual frustration.  It’s an anxious, isolating, suffocating experience that’s intentionally frustrating and not the easiest to watch. It is messy and unconventional for sure, and not all aspects are tied up by the end. It’s not a usual character drama that explores who protagonist Grace has become after becoming a mother, rather going for the more sensory and visceral approach and is something of a mood piece. We are just watching her spiral throughout and I was generally on board with that, though it does get quite repetitive and wears out its welcome as time goes on, especially with its fairly steady pacing.

Jennifer Lawrence throws herself into this role, delivering the best performance of her career. As Grace, she’s a powerhouse, fearless, powerful, vulnerable, and emotionally raw, really coming across as on the verge of mental collapse and is compelling to watch. Robert Pattinson is also incredible as Lawrence’s partner, both of them go all in on their parts and work very well with each other. Sissy Spacek, LaKeith Stanfield, and Nick Nolte also deliver some really good performances in supporting roles

Lynne Ramsay directs this greatly. It is visually beautiful with stunning cinematography, while also having jarring editing, unnerving sound design and sudden moments of violence, making for a real visceral experience.

Die My Love is compelling, atmospheric, uncomfortable, and incredibly directed, with a fantastic and career best performance from Jennifer Lawrence.