In his English language feature debut, Kornél Mundruczó directs a partly-autobiographical screenplay penned by his wife, Kata Wéber, with the emotional Pieces of a Woman. Starring Vanessa Kirby, Shia LaBeouf and Ellen Burstyn, it tells the story of devastating homebirth that leaves a woman dealing with the emotional fallout, finding herself isolated from her partner and family by a chasm of grief that threatens to overwhelm her entirely.
Painting a tragic portrait that was never going to be an easy watch, Pieces of a Woman is a delicately rendered story that will strike a profound emotion in audiences. Opening with what should be considered one of the strongest half an hour stretches of a film released in the past 12 months, the foundations the feature lays could not be stronger. While one-shot takes can feel technically cold or needlessly hollow in the wrong hands, Mundruczó's does an excellent job of absorbing you in a life-changing moment, captured with such palpable intensity and starkness that it becomes almost unbearable to endure.
While Pieces of a Woman doesn't come close to maintaining that magic over the remaining runtime, what unfolds remains a compelling piece of filmmaking that takes a raw and honest approach to its difficult subject matter. Wéber taps into some interesting conversations and dynamics but is perhaps at its best when it is allowed to stew in the quieter moments of contemplation and reflection that grief can often push people unwillingly into; Wéber's first-hand experiences work wonders in informing the various shades of Martha's experiences and result in an altogether more thoughtfully-drawn story. A beautiful score further enriches.
Vanessa Kirby delivers a powerhouse, career-redefining performance with her beautifully-measured and sensitively-handled portrayal of the emotional wreckage. As her character experiences, and later attempts to manoeuvre, the fallout of a devastating event, we feel her every emotion like it is our own, utterly compelled by what essentially becomes a tale of survival. So much weight is placed on her shoulders, yet Kirby almost single-handedly provides the momentum needed to carry Pieces of a Woman on from its stunning opening act. There's a strong supporting turn from Ellen Burstyn, who shines in one stunning monologue in particular, but the spotlight is firmly on the incomparable Kirby whose work here comfortably sits amongst the year's very best.
While Pieces of a Woman never comes close to replicating the beauty and heartbreak of the first half an hour, it remains a moving and poignant tale of trauma and grief that demonstrates the importance of laying strong storytelling foundations. Without that extraordinary beginning, it's unlikely that Pieces of a Woman would work at all outside of its powerhouse performance - but that the impressive craft throughout that first act is paramount in engaging us in the emotional fallout that follows.
Summary: Vanessa Kirby excels in Pieces of a Woman, Kornél Mundruczó's English language debut that begins stronger than it ends but still emotionally shatters with a devastating portrayal of grief and trauma.