Pieces of a Woman (2020) Movie Review
I am a massive fan of Vanessa Kirby. I first saw her in the Netflix show The Crown where she plays the young version of Princess Margaret. She went on to star in two huge action movies, Mission: Impossible – Fallout and Fast and Furious Presents: Hobbs and Shaw. It was an unlikely transition from regal period piece to action movie star, but somehow Kirby managed to pull it off. Pieces of a Woman sees her return to a more subtle type of movie, that is nevertheless incredibly effective.
Martha (Vanessa Kirby) is pregnant. She and her partner Sean (Shia LaBeouf) have agreed upon doing a home birth with a midwife. We see Sean and Martha as a couple and they seem perfectly in sync. They are cute together and when Martha begins to have contractions, Sean is supportive and talks her through them. When their midwife can’t be there because she’s in the middle of another client’s labor, a replacement midwife named Eva (Molly Parker) shows up. The labor is long and intensive but Martha births a baby girl. Almost immediately after birth, the baby dies unexpectedly.
The rest of the movie explores the grieving process that overtakes both Martha and Sean. This process is complicated by Sean being an addict and Martha’s complex relationship with her overbearing mother. Pieces of a Woman works incredibly well for the first half of the two hour and six minute run time. The movie begins with a one shot, thirty minute birthing scene. This scene is the most impressive of the whole movie featuring location changes and a massive challenge for the actors to display a wide range of emotions without messing up. Kirby in particular must take us through all of the stages of natural childbirth and this scene alone is a master class in acting. Throughout the movie, Kirby is the anchor providing us with a glimpse of what it would be like to lose a child. Pieces of a Woman highlights not just the internal struggles of what a loss would do to you, but what it does to the relationship with your partner, as well as the societal challenges that are presented. Martha is forced to confront colleagues at work, family members, and friends of the family who bombard her with advice that she never asks for.
While the first half of the movie is superb, the movie loses its edge a bit in the final half. There are some scenes that feel awkward and only half formed. Martha and Sean’s relationship isn’t explored quite as much as it is in the first half of the movie and I felt a little cheated as I watched them fall apart. The final half is saved a bit by Ellen Burstyn, who is memorable as Martha’s mother. Their relationship is intense and clearly there’s a rough history that neither of them has been able to sort through. All in all the acting performances are what makes Pieces of a Woman stand out. Burstyn has a remarkable monologue that she delivers with fiery precision. LaBeouf has a firm presence and flits between being vulnerable and stand-offish with ease. But Kirby is the real standout here. She displays a keen sense of disconnection after the tragedy at the beginning of the movie. You notice the solitary nature of the grief she feels as she struggles to cope. Kirby’s performance is subtle, but extraordinarily effective.
Pieces of a Woman starts off strong, but fizzles a bit at the end. It is mainly a vehicle for the actors to shine. The labor scene is technically impressive and director Kornél Mundruczó manages to craft a compelling story, despite hitting some snags towards the end. You’ll want to watch this for Kirby’s performance. She was nominated for an Oscar and it is well deserved.
Film or Movie: Movie
You’ll like this movie if:
1. You’re a mother
2. You like stories about intense sadness and grief
3. You like stories about fractured relationships
