Pieces of a Woman

The opening birth scene is one of the best film sequences in recent years. Unfortunately, the rest of the film never reaches that high bar, nor does it present anything very original, but I’m still satisfied. (19/01/2021)

Sensitively filmed, superbly acted. And especially from Vanessa, who is – and I'm certainly not saying this for the first time – absolutely fantastic. The film is all about her, and her character is very interesting. Her movie husband – if I'm not mistaken – said about her at the beginning that she's always cool. And that's how she came across to me, a strong and emotionally stable woman. What happens to her and to those around her when she's faced with such a difficult life situation? You can see that for yourself. I know I'm going to be one of the few, but I didn't find Shia very likable in his role. But to be honest, I almost always feel that way about him. (17/01/2021)

Un film dur avec un thème dur par rapport auquel les controverses et polémiques abondent. De mon côté, j’ajoute à ma liste d’actrices à suivre Vanessa Kirby. Celle-ci s’est distinguée par une performance marquante incroyablement difficile sur les plans psychique et physique et mérite clairement un Oscar, même si elle ne fera probablement pas le poids face à ses concurrentes afro-américaines. Shia LaBeouf la complémente habilement et Ellen Burstyn, avec son expérience vertigineuse, assure brillamment son rôle secondaire. J’ai toujours eu une opinion très négative sur les accouchements à domicile et cette opinion ne fait que se renforcer avec ce film. Toutes les femmes et tous les couples ont bien sûr leur liberté de choix, mais le risque de complications en tous genres ne peut pas être couvert adéquatement par une préparation du milieu résidentiel comme c’est le cas dans un hôpital pourvu de personnel et d’équipement. (17/04/2021)

The opening scene, which demonstrates the hell of home birth, is extremely impressive and pretty much determines all the events that follow. It's at once fascinating and disheartening how the mutual support and understanding during the intro subsequently turns into chiding, contempt, and a conscious need to hurt each other. I see great truth in the old familiar cliché that despite the noblest of intentions, no one in their immediate community can understand how you really feels in such a difficult situation. Through the evocative performances of both Vanessa Kirby and Shia LaBeouf (that guy is really good), Pieces of a Woman gives a fairly comprehensive picture of what happens to the psyche of two people who have experienced together one of the worst possible tragedies in their lives. Remarkably conscientious, sensitive, and delivered with a strange fragility, this is an elegy that is extremely intimate yet monumental. [80%] (15/05/2021)