A Movie That Hits Too Close to Home
Hello everyone!
I stumbled upon this movie by chance, curious to see Pattinson and Lawrence on screen together. Now I'm not sure if it was worth watching.
STORYLINE:
A young couple, Grace and Jackson, move from New York to Jackson's old family home in the countryside. Six months after giving birth, their passion starts to fade, and the young father spends more and more time working away from home, while Grace stays behind, growing increasingly strange and unpredictable.
CAST AND ROLES
Jennifer Lawrence stars as Grace, a woman I've always been impressed by - her energy and strength are infectious. I've seen her in some iconic roles, like Katniss Everdeen in the Hunger Games series, where she truly shone. Her performance in Silver Linings Playbook earned her a Golden Globe, and I've also enjoyed her in Passengers and X-Men.
Lawrence's portrayal of Grace is intense, and she really commits to the role. It's clear that she's being tipped for an Oscar for this performance, but I'm not sure what to say - she does a great job, sticking to the book's storyline, but the storyline itself is pretty bleak.
Robert Pattinson plays Jackson, a character I've always had a soft spot for. I first fell for him in the Twilight series, and since then, he's appeared in a range of films, including Harry Potter, Batman, and Water for Elephants. He's got an impressive resume, to say the least.
Pattinson's portrayal of Jackson is often irresponsible, and he's always with a beer in hand, never understanding what he's doing wrong and thinking he's a victim. But who's to blame for the storyline being so bleak, though?
SIMBOlISM
The film is full of symbolism, and it's up to the viewer to interpret it. Was the biker for real? And the horse? Some moments are so realistic, you can't even tell where fantasy ends and reality begins.
The dog, if there was one, would've been a nuisance, including to the kid. Could they have become friends? I think so, but not in the state the main character was in. The fire? There's this really weird scene with ink and breast milk - what is this? A symbol of the sacrifice women make for motherhood? How many of these failed writers, artists, scientists, inventors, musicians, doctors, and so on, gave up their careers to give new life? Do all of them manage to cope with this sacrifice okay?
My Impressions
I think the portrayal of postpartum depression here is a bit exaggerated and hyperbolized. It's like they took all the worst-case scenarios, like the roof caving in, and mashed them all together into one role.
Initially, the film starts off okay, but then they switch to scenes after the baby's born. It's weird that despite the obvious lack of communication, the main character locks herself in even further.
I think the topic of daily life is glossed over - how every mom gets to that point where they're a hot mess, worrying about everything: cooking, cleaning, laundry, and so on, day in and day out. They only show that she's fed up and stops doing it all because of depression - and it's only then that people start to notice.
Anyone who's dealt with depression gets what I'm talking about. The phone call seemed weird - it's sad when two close people have nothing to talk about.
Let's face it - when you're running on fumes, taking care of a tiny human 24/7, and feeling utterly isolated, intimacy is the last thing on your mind. I'm glad it's there, but if it wasn't, well, there are plenty of other problems to deal with.
I initially thought the book was all about the lack of intimacy between the main characters, but it's not. At all.
The bathroom trashing scene really hit me, and that's when we start to see the main character losing it. There's just so much pain and bitterness in that scene - it's like screaming at the top of your lungs, but nobody hears you.
The constant contrast between shots is like a hint: what if things could've been different? What if...?
I've got to say, a question has been lingering in my mind. Before having kids, you should work through your own psychological trauma. First, to avoid passing it on to your child, and second, to prevent those unresolved issues from coming back to haunt you when you're most vulnerable - during pregnancy and the postpartum period, which is basically the most vulnerable time of your life.
The Verdict
So, here's my take: I appreciate that they're talking about this, but I don't like how they're doing it. After watching the film, I felt the need to take a shower - figuratively speaking, of course. They really went too far in describing postpartum depression and what happens to women after giving birth.
I wouldn't recommend this film to anyone, especially pregnant women, new moms, or people struggling with depression. If you're not depressed, watching this film might just give you a reason to be.
It's a shame, really, because I think the cast is great, and the cinematography is beautiful. But the storyline is just too bleak, and it's not something I'd want to watch again anytime soon.
Overall, I'd say that this film is a bit of a mixed bag. While it's great to see Jennifer Lawrence and Robert Pattinson on screen together, the storyline is just too intense and depressing. If you're looking for a light-hearted film, this isn't it.
However, if you're interested in a film that tackles some tough topics, like postpartum depression and the struggles of motherhood, then this might be worth watching. Just be warned: it's not an easy watch, and it's definitely not something I'd recommend to everyone.