Pieces of a Woman
After a catastrophic home birth, a Boston mother confronts grief, marital collapse, family coercion, and a court case while searching for a livable future.
Overview
A woman's journey through grief and resilience unfolds in the wake of unimaginable loss.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Extreme
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Mild
- searing
- devastating
- intimate
- quiet evening
- serious drama night
What critics said
Critics broadly found the film's opening and Vanessa Kirby's performance exceptionally powerful, while viewing the later courtroom and melodramatic material as uneven.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Martha spends a year living with the consequences of her baby's death while resisting the expectations of her family and community.
The home-birth opening is presented as an extended, unbroken-feeling ordeal that becomes the emotional foundation for Martha's grief.
Martha's grief is repeatedly challenged by her domineering mother Elizabeth and by her fractured relationships with Sean and Suzanne.
The film relies on lengthy, performance-centered scenes, especially during the birth, family confrontations, and courtroom proceedings.
Films like Pieces of a Woman, and why
Manchester by the Sea
shared intimate domestic drama, devastating loss, and emotionally intense lead performance
Rabbit Hole
shared pregnancy loss, marital fracture, and restrained psychological grief drama
The Lost Daughter
shared female-centered trauma narrative, family pressure, and uncompromising emotional realism
Movie Details
- Director
- Kornél Mundruczó
- Release Date
- 2020-12-30
- Runtime
- 127 min
- Rating
- 7.0 / 10 (1348)
Cast
- Vanessa Kirby
- Shia LaBeouf
- Ellen Burstyn
- Sarah Snook
- Iliza Shlesinger
- Benny Safdie
- Molly Parker
- Steven McCarthy
- Tyrone Benskin
- Frank Schorpion
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Netflix, Netflix Standard with Ads
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Pieces of a Woman about?
- After a catastrophic home birth, a Boston mother confronts grief, marital collapse, family coercion, and a court case while searching for a livable future.
- What is Pieces of a Woman like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Pieces of a Woman as measured, its intensity as extreme and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Pieces of a Woman violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in Pieces of a Woman as mild.
- What did critics think of Pieces of a Woman?
- Critics broadly found the film's opening and Vanessa Kirby's performance exceptionally powerful, while viewing the later courtroom and melodramatic material as uneven.
- Which films are like Pieces of a Woman?
- Films with a similar feel include Manchester by the Sea, Rabbit Hole, and The Lost Daughter.
- How long is Pieces of a Woman?
- Pieces of a Woman runs 127 minutes.
- Where can I watch Pieces of a Woman?
- In United States, Pieces of a Woman streams on Netflix, Netflix Standard with Ads.
