Pieces of a Woman

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I’ve never seen a movie from Kornél Mundruczó, but Pieces of a Woman started getting the usual awards buzz that comes with this time of the year. Once Netflix grabbed the distribution rights, it was just a matter of time until I got the chance to watch yet another Oscar-bait. I didn’t really think about it nor created any sort of expectations besides hoping it would be good. Vanessa Kirby (Mission: Impossible - Fallout, Hobbs & Shaw) and Shia LaBeouf (Honey Boy) are the protagonists of a story that will connect with many people around the world, especially couples who went through the same situation. I’ll write it straight away: it’s undoubtedly one of the best films I’ve seen this past year.

How does it stand in comparison with the other marvelous movies? I’ll have to think about it when organizing my Top10, but Pieces of a Woman possesses the best opening act I’ve seen in quite a long time. For thirty full minutes (even before the title card shows up), an entire birth scene is delivered through excruciatingly long, uninterrupted takes, which ultimately make the whole sequence feel like a phenomenal oner. Technically, the entire film is brilliantly directed by Mundruczó, who takes advantage of the superb cinematography from Benjamin Loeb and Howard Shore’s beautiful score to offer the viewer an emotionally powerful viewing experience.

As fantastic as the technical attributes may be, Kata Wéber’s exceptionally well-written, detailed screenplay is really elevated by the incredible cast, notably its leads. Without the shadow of a doubt, Vanessa Kirby gives her career-best performance, demonstrating an emotional range I genuinely believed she didn’t have. Martha’s arc ends up being a tad predictable and formulaic as some other characters’ arcs and portions of the narrative, but I never felt less invested in the story due to that. In fact, I can’t remember the last...

'Pieces of a Woman' demonstrates how sometimes, even despite everyone trying their best, dark outcomes happen, and we don't always get an answer for why. Thankfully, it also shows that there is a path for achieving post-traumatic growth, even under the most shattering of circumstances.

• Jake Watt

Read Jake's full article... https://www.maketheswitch.com.au/article/review-pieces-of-a-woman-the-ripple-effect-of-grief

I feel like I can’t review “Pieces of a Woman” without first addressing the elephant in the room: the horrific and violent abuse claims against lead actor Shia LaBeouf. They’re so bad that Netflix has taken the man’s name off most ads for the film and, especially considering the subject matter, it seems appropriate. LaBeouf gives an absolutely heartbreaking performance, but the allegations surrounding the actor make some of the material feel very upsetting (in particular, a scene where LaBeouf’s character tries to force unwanted sex on his partner). But to dismiss this film would be unfair to the those who worked so hard both in front of and behind the camera.

The film tells the story of Martha (Vanessa Kirby) and her partner Sean (LaBeouf) over the course of a year, set off by the new mother’s home birth that ends in an unthinkable tragedy at the hands of a flustered midwife (Molly Parker). The grief begins to overwhelm the young couple, who are coping in very different ways. The first part of the movie highlights the deep love between the two but as the months tick on, their relationship become more fractured. Making things worse is Martha’s domineering mother Elizabeth (Ellen Burstyn), who never liked Sean and sees her daughter as a failure.

Director Kornél Mundruczó has fashioned a gripping portrait of loss and grief that rests firmly on Kirby’s shoulders. She gives a raw, physical and emotional performance that is truly outstanding. She and Burstyn create a realistic family dynamic which finally explodes when Martha and Elizabeth have a tense standoff over dinner. Mom wants her daughter to deal with the tragedy head-on instead of continuing to bury the pain. It’s one of the strongest scenes in the film, and the two actors make it unforgettable.

The film has a melancholy atmosphere and tone that complements the subject matter. Everything is increasingly bleak and drab as Martha and Sean continue to make a series of bad-to-worse decisions and behaviors t...

I totally get why this film has so many award nominations. The film deals with a difficult, very real, subject - how the loss of a child affects the relationships of those around him/her. But honestly, outside of a tremendous performance by Vanessa Kirby, this film is just average or worse. The subject was so much more finely dealt with in the brilliant Ordinary People.

Maybe there's a good movie in the script.

Can't say, the actual movie is one of those productions where "HDR" means "Hundred% Darkness Rules," I can hardly make out what's going on on the screen.

Turned it off after five minutes. Watched something that could be seen instead.