Lynne Ramsay returns to the big screen with her fifth feature film, Die My Love, a haunting and deeply emotional portrayal of a woman falling apart under the weight of postnatal depression. Starring Jennifer Lawrence in what might be one of her most powerful performances to date, the film had its world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival, and it’s already stirring major buzz.
This raw, beautiful, and unsettling drama dives deep into the emotional breakdown of a woman struggling to find her place in a new life that seems to be closing in on her from all sides.
A Song That Says It All
The film closes with Ramsay herself singing a stripped-down version of Joy Division’s 1980 song, Love Will Tear Us Apart. The song fits the tone of the movie perfectly—it’s about love, loss, and emotional chaos. Just like the song, the film reflects the pain and confusion of someone slipping into a mental health crisis while trying to hold onto love.
Meet Grace: A Woman Losing Herself
Jennifer Lawrence plays Grace, a sharp and spirited writer from the city who moves to a remote countryside with her husband Jackson, played by Robert Pattinson. They’re hoping for a peaceful fresh start in a house left to Jackson by his late uncle. It’s quiet, it’s isolated, and it’s nothing like New York—something Jackson points out early on.
At first, life seems to be moving quickly and full of promise. Within minutes, we see Grace and Jackson fall in love, have a baby, and celebrate the child’s first birthday. But behind this seemingly happy life, things are slowly falling apart.
The Sound of Isolation
The movie opens in total darkness with the buzzing of a fly. That small, annoying sound keeps popping up, building a sense of unease. With the help of Dolby Atmos sound design, the fly buzzes all around the theater, making the audience feel as unsettled as Grace.
Jackson seems to be coping well with their new life. He spends his time talking about space and possibilities while stargazing with a telescope. But Grace isn’t on the same page. Her reply to his dreamy thoughts is sharp: “Who gives a shit?” It’s one of the first signs that something is seriously wrong.
Life in the Middle of Nowhere
At first, you might think Grace is just a sarcastic New Yorker trying to adjust to rural life. A grocery store scene, where she sharply answers a friendly cashier, is both darkly funny and uncomfortable. It shows how deeply out of place she feels.
Soon, we learn that Grace is now a stay-at-home mom, left alone with her baby while Jackson works—maybe as a musician or something else that pays the bills. Ramsay uses a brilliant, creepy sequence set to Toni Basil’s “Mickey” to show Grace cracking under pressure, repeating words and moving in strange ways. It’s clear she’s unraveling.
Grace also shows little interest in the traditional role of a housewife. When Jackson brings home a dog, she says, “We need a cat.” The dog’s constant barking, like the fly and the baby’s crying, adds to the disturbing atmosphere. The sound in this movie is just as important as the visuals.
The only one who seems to notice how bad things are getting is Jackson’s mother, Pam, played by Sissy Spacek. Pam is still mourning her late husband and sees signs of trouble in Grace. “Everybody goes a little loopy the first year,” she says, hinting at postpartum depression. But Grace doesn’t want to hear it.
As Grace sinks deeper into her mental illness, she starts to behave destructively. She becomes obsessed with a mysterious motorcyclist, played by LaKeith Stanfield, and it’s never clear whether they’re actually having an affair or if it’s all in her head. Even an attempt to fix things by getting married again only makes everything worse, leading to one of the film’s most shocking moments.
Powerful Inspirations, Unique Vision
Die My Love is based on a 2017 novel by Ariana Harwicz, and while it draws some comparisons to Roman Polanski’s Repulsion, Ramsay’s version takes a different route. Instead of slowly building horror, she focuses on the emotional and psychological damage behind Grace’s actions.
Jennifer Lawrence is phenomenal in this role, holding her own against iconic performances like Catherine Deneuve’s in Repulsion. At just 34, this might be one of Lawrence’s best roles ever. Pattinson also deserves credit—he supports the story without trying to take over, letting Grace’s emotional collapse take center stage.
The film also includes music from Lou Reed, David Bowie, and even The Chipmunks, adding unexpected emotion and energy to the story. One standout moment uses Bowie’s song “Kooks” so perfectly it might bring tears to your eyes.
Die My Love: A Bold and Brave Film
Ramsay continues to prove she’s a master of intense storytelling. Like in her previous works—We Need to Talk About Kevin, You Were Never Really Here, and Morvern Callar—she doesn’t rush toward a big dramatic payoff. Instead, she lets the tension slowly build and hang in the air, making us feel every moment.
Die My Love doesn’t offer easy answers or neat conclusions. It’s messy, emotional, and hard to shake. The film explores motherhood, depression, love, sex, and mental illness with honesty and courage. It’s a tough watch at times, but also deeply moving and unforgettable.
Jennifer Lawrence gives a career-defining performance in Die My Love, capturing the raw pain of a woman who feels like she’s losing everything. Lynne Ramsay once again proves she’s a director who isn’t afraid to explore the darkest corners of the human mind.
If handled right, this could earn Lawrence her fifth Oscar nomination and possibly push Ramsay to the next level in her career. And yes—believe it or not—Ramsay can sing, too.
This is not just a film. It’s an experience.
