Pieces of a Woman (2020)

When a young mother's home birth ends in unfathomable tragedy, she begins a year-long odyssey of mourning that fractures relationships with loved ones in this deeply personal story of a woman learning to live alongside her loss.

Director:

Kornél Mundruczó

Writer:

Kata Wéber

Stars:

Vanessa Kirby, Shia LaBeouf, Ellen Burstyn

Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 5 wins & 58 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Vanessa Kirby	...	Martha
Shia LaBeouf	...	Sean
Ellen Burstyn	...	Elizabeth
Iliza Shlesinger	...	Anita
Benny Safdie	...	Chris
Sarah Snook	...	Suzanne
Molly Parker	...	Eva
Steven McCarthy	...	Photographer
Tyrone Benskin	...	Judge
Frank Schorpion	...	Lane
Harry Standjofski	...	Court Clerk
Domenic Di Rosa	...	Medical Examiner
Jimmie Fails	...	Max
Juliette Casagrande	...	Little Girl
Gayle Garfinkle	...	Judith

Storyline

Martha and Sean are a Boston couple on the verge of parenthood whose lives change irrevocably when a home birth ends in unimaginable tragedy. Thus begins a yearlong odyssey for Martha, who must navigate her grief while working through fractious relationships with her husband and her domineering mother, along with the publicly vilified midwife, whom she must face in court. A deeply personal, searing, and ultimately transcendent story of a woman learning to live alongside her loss.

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Plot Keywords:

child birth | long take | grief | marriage | sorrow | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language, sexual content, graphic nudity and brief drug use

Did You Know?

Trivia

The title doesn't appear until 30 minutes into movie.

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Goofs

Martha's family are supposed to be Jewish (see the Hebrew on Yvette's gravestone). Cremation is not a Jewish practice yet Martha pours Yvette's ashes into the river in the closing scene.

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Quotes

Lane: Yes, how did you feel holding your baby you had just given birth to?
Martha: She smelled like an apple.

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Crazy Credits

The title appears around the 30-minute mark.

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Connections

Referenced in Chris Stuckmann Movie Reviews: The Best Movies of 2020 (2020)

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Soundtracks

chill.
Written by João Pedro Miiller Bianchini
Performed by sakura Hz

User Reviews

Pieces of a Woman review

Opens on one of the most powerful long takes in recent memory, but not even the masterful performances by Kirby and Burstyn could save the dry 2nd and 3rd acts. Resolution felt incomplete. Kirby elevates an otherwise tough sit.

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

Canada Hungary USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

7 January 2021 (USA)

Also Known As:

Pieces of a Woman

Filming Locations:

Montreal, Québec, Canada

Company Credits

Production Co:

BRON Studios, Creative Wealth Media Finance, Little Lamb

Technical Specs

Runtime:

126 min

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1