Is Die My Love a portrait of postpartum depression or a dark, twisted romance?

Entertainment · Published 3 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Director Lynne Ramsay and star Jennifer Lawrence transformed Ariana Harwicz’s novel into a polarizing 2025 psychological drama. While critics praised Lawrence’s raw performance as a mother unraveling in rural Montana, audiences were deeply divided, leading to a rare disconnect between professional acclaim and the film’s challenging, unconventional narrative style.

The film originated from a book club recommendation by Martin Scorsese, who envisioned Jennifer Lawrence in the lead role. Lawrence, who co-produced the project through her company Excellent Cadaver, eventually brought director Lynne Ramsay on board. Although Ramsay initially hesitated due to her previous work on similar themes in 2011’s We Need to Talk About Kevin, she committed after deciding to frame the story as a 'bonkers, crazy love story' rather than a clinical study of postpartum depression. The script, co-written by Ramsay, Enda Walsh, and Alice Birch, relocated the setting from rural France to the United States.

Production began in August 2024 near Calgary, Canada, following delays caused by Hollywood strikes. Cinematographer Seamus McGarvey shot the film on 35mm film in a 1.33:1 Academy ratio, utilizing unconventional techniques like burning lenses to achieve a distinct, inky visual aesthetic. The film premiered at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival, where it received a six-minute standing ovation and was nominated for the Palme d'Or. Mubi later secured distribution rights for $24 million, marking the company’s largest acquisition to date.

The final product remains a subject of intense debate. Critics on Rotten Tomatoes gave the film a 75% approval rating, frequently citing Lawrence’s performance as a career-best effort that captures the terrifying volatility of a mental health crisis. Conversely, general audiences polled by CinemaScore awarded the film a 'D+' grade. Some reviewers, such as those at The Washington Post, questioned whether the film’s stylistic choices obscured its exploration of motherhood, while others, like those at RogerEbert.com, lauded it as a wild, worthwhile experience. Ultimately, the film grossed $12.2 million worldwide, standing as Ramsay’s highest-grossing feature to date.

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