'Pieces Of A Woman' Movie Review

Introduction

They say you don't know the true meaning of something until you've lost it.

Key themes

Sean of unborn child talks about how he wants to be there for his daughter, at work.

Martha's workplace hosts a baby shower for her.

Martha's mother buys a family car for her daughter. Sean is convinced that Martha's mother doesn't like him.

Martha starts having contractions. Sean calls Barbara, their home-birth midwife, who is busy with another birth.

Martha's water breaks. Barbara sends someone else, Eva, to take care of Martha.

Whilst in the bathtub, Martha notices droplets of blood. The Eva dismisses it.

Eva notices that the fetus' heartbeat is not normal as it was before. Sean is advised to call the ambulance.

The baby is born and Eva claims the baby is healthy and alive. A few moments later, Eva notices the baby is blue.

The paramedics arrive.

Martha arrives at work the next day after her home delivery. Her colleagues are shocked and her maternity cover is confused when Martha shows up. Martha notices her breasts are leaking.

The autopsy concludes uncertain of the cause of death of the child.

Martha is frustrated about the spelling of her daughter's name on her gravestone. It spelt 'Ivette' instead of 'Yvette'. She storms out.

Sean reads articles about the imprisonment of the midwife. He pleads with Martha to sort out the civil case. Sean doesn't want Martha to donate their daughter's body for scientific purposes.

Martha's mother also pleads with Martha to bury their child's remains after donating her body for scientific purposes.

Sean relapses, he begins to smoke and drink again after being sober. He suggests they take a trip. Martha's not into the idea.

Sean suggests they have sex, as a way to feel connected. He forces her, but Martha is not in the mood. Sean is annoyed and storms out, he goes to the riverside and grieves.

Sean tries to sell the family car to get money. He makes plans, with the his brother-in-law his car salesman, to damage the car for quick sale.

Martha's sister informs Martha that their mother isn't doing too well.

Sean meets with a lawyer, who is Martha's cousin, but is having more than a legal relationship with her.

At a work party, Martha kisses another man, but leaves immediately after, realising her mistake.

Martha returns home from the party and Sean accuses her of being a cheat and a liar.

Martha and Sean goes to Martha's mother's house. Martha's sister and her husband as well as cousin (the lawyer) are there as well. Sean acts as if he doesn't know the cousin.

Martha's mother informs Martha that her cousin will be their prosecutor for the case against Eva. Martha does not agree.

Martha's mother wants Martha to fight the case and make Eva pay for what she did.

Martha's mother tries to pay off Sean to leave and not come back. Sean invites Martha's cousin to go to Seattle with him, she refuses.

Martha drives Sean to the airport.

Martha attends Eva's trial. She is questioned about the events of October 7th.

On a trial break, Martha gets her photos, from the day of the home delivery, printed.

Martha addresses the court personally. Martha claims that Eva is not at fault for her daughter's death.

Martha sprinkles her daughter's ashes on the river.

A little girl, Martha's daughter, climbs a tree and picks and eats an apple.

Key observations and questions

• The interactions, conversations and actions of the characters are very natural and real; the film did not feel scripted.
• The film shows that grieving can take a long time and is dependent on the individual.
• The home-birth midwife, Eva, did appear very meticulous, but in a strange and ulterior-motive way. It could be assumed she had some part to play in the death of the child as perhaps she wasn't 'trained enough'.
• The focus on apple seeds is used as a metaphor, some seeds grow and some don't, even if they are all treated with care. This is particularly creative, but in the theme of the film, may also appear insensitive.
• Why did Sean leave? Was this a mutual decision? Is Sean coming back? Does Martha know that her mother sent Sean away? Did their relationship end? Did Martha find out about the affair?
• Why did Sean call Martha 'a liar and a cheat'? Was he really talking about himself? Was Sean ejecting his anger for himself towards Martha?
• Is the girl at the end real or a figment of Martha's imagination? Was the last scene a coping mechanism? Was the girl Martha's child? Who is the father?

Conclusion

'Pieces Of A Woman' was a gripping and raw film. At the beginning, the scenes are played out in real time allowing the audience to experience the labour, delivery and tragic events of October 7th. The rest of the film's layout was structured with timecards to represent the passing of time and new chapters to the misery and grief founded after the death of the child. With every new chapter, a new character development was introduced, we learnt how the tragedy affected the characters and their choices thereafter. Martha was broken in her unbrokenness. She was strong at times, but at her times of weakness she wasn't asking 'why' but ensuring her dead child was able to leave the earth well, even though the child's sudden departure brought destruction to her life. The events that occurred after the death were deep, serious and somewhat tragic but only Eva's trial had a resolution, whilst all the other happenings were left open-ended, which is confusing and disappointing.

There is no textbook solution to grief, however, the last scene which showed a child climbing a tree and eating apple (appearing to be Martha's child), was not the suitable ending. It may have been purposed to show Martha's moving on and overcoming her grief but it lacks sensitivity as not all can just 'move on' and to put simply, having another child does not erase the memory of another. What makes the last scene so mysterious is the fact it is indeterminable whether it is real or not. The progress of the film was symbolised with timecards, however, the last scene was the only scene we do not know the time or date for, which leads to the questionings of its genuineness.

Overall the film displayed the strengths and weaknesses of Martha. Not just pieces of a woman, but of humans.

Cast

Vanessa Kirby - Martha

Shia LaBeouf - Sean