The contemporary film “Die My Love” is, in short, intense. This psychological thriller/dark comedy is truly unhinged, and brutally confronts uncomfortable emotions and harrowing themes of motherhood and loss of identity. A young couple, Jackson (Robert Pattinson) and Grace (Jennifer Lawrence), moves to a secluded rural home in Montana, which strikingly juxtaposes their former lives in New York City. They eventually have a child, and in isolation, Grace experiences aggressive postpartum depression and starts to lose her grasp on reality. 

There is a confounding dream-like nature to this film. Directed by Lynne Ramsey, the visuals in “Die My Love” have a surreal quality to them. There were multiple instances of Grace walking through rural and forest areas, and encountering people and things almost in a dream-like manner. The uneasiness of the film was amplified as I was constantly questioning if what I was seeing really existed or if it was actually in Grace’s head. In the mundane, quiet moments with her baby, while Jackson is working, a blue lighting encompasses the scene, amplifying the depression and isolation Grace is feeling during these moments. Ramsey visually depicts postpartum depression in the moments of isolation, and in turn demonstrates our protagonist’s need for human contact and activity. 

Lawrence’s performance was outstanding. As Grace progressively falls deeper into depression, Lawrence brilliantly communicates Grace’s emotions to the audience: isolated, bored, trapped and, at times, full of rage. Her portrayal of Grace was captivating and deeply nuanced, with quiet emotional struggles. I found that the ups and downs of this story beautifully demonstrate the complexities of motherhood and how it can lead to an alteration of one’s identity. Even in the moments that lacked dialogue, Lawrence’s visual performance demonstrated Grace’s mental decline and made the audience feel deeply for her character. 

The soundtrack of this film creates chaos and peace. The genres of music vary heavily from the children’s song “Apples and Bananas” to the love song of this film, “In Spite of Ourselves.” During the times of peace and serenity, Jackson and Grace listen to music, singing along together in a comforting way that brought a smile to my face. These peaceful moments give the audience hope for a happy ending for Grace and her family. However, in moments where Grace’s mental health is on the decline, the music becomes chaotic. For instance, Grace is seen at one point aimlessly wandering around the house, exuding boredom and unfulfillment while the upbeat song “Hey, Mickey” plays on repeat in an unsettling way. Her irrationality is amplified with the chaotic nature of the music. Grace decides to listen to this song in pure isolation. 

“Die My Love” is not for everyone. This film is cinematic, visually pleasing and stars notable actors. Nonetheless, this film is emotionally heavy and had me leaving the theater feeling moved, but at the same time, heartbroken. Dealing with intense themes like postpartum depression, struggling with motherhood after giving birth and losing one’s identity, will inherently produce a heavy film. So, although beautifully made, it is exceedingly unfiltered, raw and real.