One of the most fascinating things for me is when a movie gets only one Oscar nomination. And it’s not as rare as one might think, as a quick Google search gives me at least 40+ different films (and they range from Grease (1978), Full Metal Jacket (1987), and The Mummy (1999)) to this movie. My silly and unachievable goal is to watch every film ever made. But my second, much more achievable goal is to watch every Oscar-nominated movie for every feature-length category. And Pieces of a Woman earned its only Oscar nomination for Vanessa Kirby. After watching this film, I concur and will say that the 2021 Oscars was a packed year (Frances McDormand got her third Oscar, but Carey Mulligan, Andra Day and Viola Davis were all nominated alongside Vanessa). I still haven’t seen Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom (2020), but it’s on my list, so I can’t judge it properly, but honestly… I am not sure whether I would choose Frances over Vanessa or Carey.
And that’s not to say that Pieces of a Woman only relies on Vanessa. There are many different aspects and performers that make this movie unforgettable, but… Vanessa Kirby is exquisite in this movie. Her character and performance hover over everyone in this film, and that is saying something. Her character is complex and, at times, can feel detached, but Vanessa makes these tiny decisions and has such expressive eyes that you can see the pain, the heartbreak, the way she hasn’t processed her grief properly… Pieces of a Woman is not a cheery film, but I will recommend it, if for nothing else, than for you to see Vanessa’s performance.
The movie opens with a disastrous home birth, and that opening scene lasts 20 minutes. It is seemingly shot with no cuts, putting you directly into the “action”. And as everything starts to get uncomfortable, the movie never lets go, making you part of it, so from the very beginning, you are in it. You feel uncomfortable and probably shook a bit, but that scene is a masterpiece. I strongly suspect that 10/15 years from now, it will be shown in film schools, as it’s a great example of how to establish everything – the story, stakes, characters… Everything is set from that scene and is done masterfully.
The rest of the movie is a fascinating story about how losing a baby (if you didn’t get it by my “disastrous home birth sentence” sentence) can and will shake up everything and everyone. This film felt authentic by showing us how different people deal with loss. Some want to blame somebody else (like Ellen Burstyn‘s character), others try to process it but don’t know how (Shia LaBeouf‘s character) and then there are people like Vanessa, who needs her time and space and shuts down. And by doing this, alienating everyone. And again, if you decide to watch this movie, brace yourself for characters who can be really hard to root for. But here is why that opening scene had to be shot like that, for maximum impact – to make you part of the story, for you to feel like this just happened to you. The movie effectively forces you to ponder this uncomfortable question: “How would I react if this was me? Would I want to sue? Would I rage?” Pieces of a Woman is a movie that’s not afraid to “go there”, and I respect that.
Since I have already mentioned them, it’s worth noting that both Ellen Burstyn and Shia give superb performances. I will repeat what I wrote in my review for The Peanut Butter Falcon (2019, my review here) – it’s a shame that Shia, by all accounts, isn’t the “best person”, to put it mildly, because he’s got the talent. He goes toe-to-toe in this movie with Vanessa and is probably the closest person who can match her incredible performance. In another reality, he would have been one of the most sought-after actors with at least one or two Oscars to his name. It’s a shame that, in this reality, he seems to have temper and ego issues, and I hope he can change.
The film itself loses just a bit of steam in the middle. Maybe it’s the fact that the opening scene is such a strong one the rest of the movie fades, albeit only a tiny bit, in comparison, but the moment we found ourselves in the court, that is where this film cemented itself for me. And that was where Vanessa underlined her performance, where she is forced, under oath, to come to terms with everything… It’s a heartbreaking scene. And the “apple” reveal (without spoiling anything) will crush you. Surprisingly though, the movie ends on a hopeful note, and the metaphor comes a full circle, but that doesn’t negate the fact that Pieces of a Woman will be one of those films you might never want to rewatch again.
Overall, Pieces of a Woman is a near-perfect drama with one exquisite performance by Vanessa Kirby. If you (like me) know her mainly from the Mission: Impossible franchise, do yourself a favour and watch this film to see just how talented she is and why she should be one of the busiest actresses around. The rest of the movie is this almost quiet meditation about grief and different (un)healthy ways of dealing with it, whilst the movie asks you what you would have done. And that’s a question nobody wants to answer, let alone think about. If you like challenging, draining movies, this one is for you.
That’s all for this one! Did you see it? What did you think about it? Let me know!
Until next time,
Luke