Morra, Amor

'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.

This is a very good move. It's also an awful movie. Jennifer Lawrence acts the heck out of it - seriously good work. It's a huge rule that could have been cartoonish but she gives it nuance and depth. Robert Pattinson isn't quite as good but he holds his own.

Postpartum depression is not a topic I've seen done before, surely because it makes us confront uncomfortable things about mothers, who we'd rather idealize. So I give the producers a lot of credit for tackling the subject.

But it's about an unlikable woman going through miserable times, causing havoc in her wake. Of course people aren't going to like that.

My only possible criticism is that the portrayal of mental illness didn't seem fully authentic to me. But I say "possible" because I'm not a mental health professional and obviously I have not had postpartum depression.

But, the protagonists problems weren't only postpartum depression but that pushes her over the edge. I'll guess that's how it usually works.

Please stop casting Jennifer Lawrence in these kinds of roles: impatient, grumpy, aggressive, unstable, rude, crazy, and out of control. Her performances feel repetitive and boring. She is a good actress, but can she be given a different kind of role? I also believe this character would feel stronger if it were played by another actor. I kept seeing echoes of her previous films in this one.

As for the ending, the fire imagery feels forced and cliché. I couldn't enjoy the film, and the male lead didn't really have much room to develop his character either.

I just couldn't enjoy this film. I found the flick to be pretentious and the story jumps the gun far too often for the plot to hold any weight from the message being conveyed.

Yes, the film has some gorgeous cinematography and the acting is great, but that is about where the good stops for this one. The story goes absolutely nowhere. In about the last quarter of the film, I had felt like I finally got a grip on what Jennifer Lawrence's character was going through and why she kept doing these crazy things to herself, and I had thought, what a perfect way to end this film. Then it continued for another 25 minutes and lost me again with the meaning behind the film. It was as frustrating as seeing Lawrence's pregnant belly shrink and unshrink throughout the film, at intervals that make no sense.

The best part of the film is easily Jennifer Lawrence's acting. She was what made the film, at least somewhat, entertaining. Not a whole lot of a transformation for herself, she is doing a lot of what she did in 'Mother!' here as well, but it works in the film's favor. The actor who should not have been in this is Robert Pattinson. Very miscast role. It's not that he's a bad actor, it's that his acting is dry and emotionless. This role required someone with a more tender screen presence. Had they stuck with the idea I had thought they were going with, he would've been just fine, but, again, then the movie went on for another 25 minutes, making you feel bad for his character, and obliterated that idea out of my head.

Overall, I couldn't recommend it. The meaning and emotion that could have been are all lost in this messy soup of a film. The acting is great and the cinematography is a stand out, but the lack of a cohesive plotline, an ending that dragged on and on, and the very miscast husband pushed this film all the way to the ground by the end of it. A shame, a daring and provocative performance just wasted because of somebody's idea of 'avent garde elevated cinema'.

2 dead loves out of 5.