‘Pieces Of a Woman’ Surveys the Complexities of Grief
TW//: Pregnancy Loss
Kornél Mundruzcó and Kata Wéber worked to revitalize their 2018 stage play Pieces of A Woman, an impactful story that explores the complexities of grief. Mundruzcó’s first English language feature film, premiered worldwide at the 77th Venice International Film Festival, and was available for digital streaming January 7, 2021. This film displays the trials and tribulations of a woman trying to grapple with the heartbreaking reality of a home birth that went wrong and it includes the many talents of; Vanessa Kirby, Molly Parker, Benny Safdie, Jimmy Fails, Ellen Burstyn and more.
A Boston couple Martha Weiss(Kirby),a successful executive and Sean (LaBeouf), a construction worker, were expecting their first child, and were very intent on having an at home birth. Their intended midwife Barbra was unavailable, and sent Eva, another midwife, in her place.
Kirby's delivers an intense and evident exhausting performance during the 24 Minute birthing scene. She managed to display great and strenuous efforts in childbirth, and especially an at home birth. In this moment , we see the beautiful and emotional bond this couple share, as Sean comforts Martha during the entire process. This entire scene set precedent to the initial downfall, after the unfortunate passing of their daughter. In this scene, the beginning stages of a volatile grieving stage, as relationships hang in the balance.
Months after the tragedy, their relationship with family and interpersonal connections begin to plummet, and their own bond begins to strain as both struggle to find the right way to process everything.
The center couple shows a multitude in instances where they are both taking different approaches in dealing with their loss. At their appointment with the coroner, emotions range out as Sean was overwhelmed with emotion after learning that the cause of death for their child was still undetermined. This awakens a stream of instances where healing seems to be in limbo as they must deal with the constant reminder of their loss.
Sean in long term recovery, and LaBeouf does an impressive job is showing the emotional strain and isolation in dealing with a premature loss. In a moment, his inward aggression manifests , and feeling disconnected from his partner, he craves a way to fill the void brought on by loss, abandonment and rejection.
While walking the rainy Boston streets, Martha takes hold of an apple and gently sniffs it, and later tenderly places each seed on a damp napkin. Between these scenes, she sets forth an outward emotional guard, but nonetheless, the agony of her loss is so well displayed in her bearing. And at moments she can't seem to escape the physical toil of postpartum- like lactating at the sound of a baby's cry.
Pieces of A Woman explores the emotional complexities of grieving, isolation, deep sorrow and rejection. These sentimental strains manifest in a number of ways, as we see with Martha and Sean.
