Pieces of a Woman
dir. Kornél Mundruczó · 2020
Experiencing profound loss can lead to a painful but necessary journey of self-discovery and healing.
Martha's world shatters when a home birth goes tragically wrong, leaving her to navigate the aftermath of loss and the strain it places on her marriage and family dynamics. Watching this film feels like being drawn into a deeply personal and raw exploration of grief, where every moment is steeped in emotional weight and the struggle for understanding.
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.
Talking points
- the impact of grief on relationships
- the portrayal of home births in media
- societal expectations of motherhood
- the ethics of blame in tragedy
