Pieces Of A Woman (2020) || Movie Review

Some movies are made purely to entertain while others reach deeper into hearts and souls, asking for reflection or some sense of recognition. I don't often watch emotional movies but seeing Vanessa Kirby play the lead character in Pieces Of A Woman (2020) piqued my interest.

Directed by Kornél Mundruczó and based on a screenplay written by Kata Wéber, this movie is a melodrama starring actors like Vanessa Kirby, Shia LaBeouf, Molly Parker, Sarah Snook, Iliza Shlesinger and others.

The first scene shows Sean Carson (Shia LaBeouf) working at a bridge construction site. He's rough, speaks and acts nonchalant to his co-workers as he closes for the day. Next, we see Martha Weiss (Vanessa Kirby) smiling through an office party that looks like a baby shower. She's pregnant.

She leaves the office and heads to a car dealership where she meets her partner, Sean, and her mother. Her mother buys them a minivan because of the baby on the way.

Sean and Martha are at home when her water breaks and labour begins. It's a home birth. Sean calls their midwife who says she can't make it because she's in the middle of another birth but sends Eva as her replacement.

Eva arrives and guides the couple through the birth. While monitoring the baby’s heart rate and noticing a decline, she directs Sean to call the emergency line so they can be taken to the hospital. But Martha births the baby before the paramedics arrive. As the midwife is happy, sighing with relief, she notices the baby turning blue in her mother's arms. Sean rushes out in confusion to flag down the EMT vehicle and direct the paramedics into the house. Will the baby survive?

My Review And Rating

For those who enjoy action movies, they might see Pieces Of A Woman as boring because of the slow pace and emotional scenes. But the plot is one not commonly explored in the film industry and it's well done. It's a sensitive subject that most women struggle with in reality so the filmmakers dig deep into Martha Weiss’ loss and pain to help us understand her.

I admire Vanessa Kirby in this role because she really embodies her character in a very realistic manner. The scenes of labour and delivery feel very real, there is no sugarcoating it. The expressions of pain, anxiety, worry and finally joy are raw and well portrayed.

The storytelling vividly captures Martha Weiss' isolation and pain that comes with losing a baby in every scene. The silence and awkward stares from family and friends drives the loss even deeper. The bridge scene intervals with the date stamps lets viewers see that the experience is not a walk in the park or a situation that can be overcome within days or weeks. The pressure from loved ones to get over the loss or ‘do something’ about it further expands the grief. Every attempt at comforting Martha Weiss seems feeble and more like a burden. The movie moves from calm to chaotic then to catatonic, it's heartbreaking.

One part of the movie I don't like is the focus on Martha's partner, Sean Carson (Shia LaBeouf). Yes, he's affected by the loss of their baby but when he starts to indulge in some nasty behaviour while resenting Martha, that made me dislike his character very much. I don't know if it was to flesh up the screenplay but I think Sean should have been given less screen time so he doesn't diminish the strength of the story. On the other hand, director Kornél Mundruczó portrays the reality of the situation. Couples have been known to split up after such a painful loss.

The legal battle that Martha's mother initiates despite her daughter's reluctance is a good addition to this story. But the manipulation and forcing Martha's hand parts I did not like. The scene where Martha argues with her mother about her grief is moving and heartbreaking. We see the loss from both their perspectives. Still, this lead character pulls through the traumatic experience while standing by her truth.

There are symbolisms portrayed in this movie one of which is Martha's fondness for apples, a fruit of fertility. She even testifies in court that her baby smells like an apple. She eats many and keeps the seed, nurturing it.

The cinematography is good. The visuals are clear and steady, focused on scenes that grip the attention of viewers.

Rating this movie, I will give it 4 stars out of 5 simply because it touches on a subject not often talked about. The story is raw and moving, and the ending is bittersweet. Vanessa Kirby's performance of Martha Weiss' loss and grief journey is outstanding. Let me know your thoughts if you have seen this movie.

https://youtu.be/1zLKbMAZNGI?si=PQQcPbmlyQQnfC_l

All images above are from the movie screenshots

Poster image source

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