Movie Review: ‘Die My Love’

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Review by James Lindorf

In 2012, Argentine author Ariana Harwicz had her story “Matate, Amor” published. It took five years for it to be translated into English and renamed “Die My Love” by Sarah Moses and Carolina Orloff. After its release in the US, it became a book club hit, with one of those clubs including legendary Director Martin Scorsese. He had been searching for a project that would allow him to collaborate with Jennifer Lawrence for years, and he believed she would be ideal for the lead role in this emotionally dark comedy. “Die My Love” was produced by Black Label Media and Lawrence’s label Excellent Cadaver. It premiered this May at the Cannes Film Festival, and thanks to a distribution deal with MUBI, it is opening in theaters everywhere on November 7th.

“Die My Love” follows Grace (Jennifer Lawrence) and her partner Jackson (Robert Pattinson), a young couple who move from New York City to Jackson’s rural childhood home in Montana. Their house belonged to Jackson’s uncle, and Jackson’s parents (Nick Nolte, Sissy Spacek) live nearby, which is good news when Grace quickly becomes pregnant. They believe they are on the path to the American Dream. Jackson will make music, and Grace has an office to write the next Great American Novel, and a baby seems like icing on the cake. As they adjust to their new home and parenthood, tensions rise as Grace struggles with the isolation and her emotions spiraling into a woman engulfed by love and madness.

Dark off-kilter films are nothing new to Director Lynne Ramsay, who is known for films including “We Need to Talk About Kevin” and “You Were Never Really Here.” She is in complete control of the pacing, the setting, and the performances. There is no doubt that the final product is what she intended to make; however, your mileage may vary. “Die My Love” is not an easy feel-good time. The movie is presented in a 4:3 ratio, which is the square shape that all old CRT TVs used to come in. So instead of wide-open vistas of the Western United States, everything is condensed, giving visual clues to the pressure Grace is under and the volatility of the situation. Then it is complemented with music that could be in Grace’s head or actually playing in the house. She could know that Jackson is having an affair or just be assuming the worst. She may be having her own affair, or she may just be daydreaming about a guy she saw at the store. Grace is the definition of an unreliable narrator; she can’t trust herself, so why should we? Add in the most obnoxious dog in cinema history, Ramsay makes us believe that Grace’s desperation is our own.

The cast size is limited due to story necessity, which puts more pressure on everyone playing a part. Nolte and Stanfield are non-factors, not because of their talent, but purely because of their limited screen time. Spacek is a step up, but even then, her character doesn’t have a significant impact on the film. Then there is Pattinson, who, despite achieving stardom with the Twilight franchise, has consistently proven himself to be a great actor. And he is excellent again here, embodying Jackson with no traces of the characters he is known for. As good as Pattinson is, the film is a showcase for Lawrence. The role of Grace is a demanding one with a complete lack of glamour. Grace is breaking under the new demands of her life and her raging hormones, causing bouts of depression, anger, and flat-out weird behavior. Lawrence committed to every second, whether it meant screaming, stalking through the woods on all fours, rolling around naked, or licking a window. Together, the duo is a captivating mix of axiety-inducing relatability.

“Die My Love” is an art film; it wants to entertain, but that is not its goal. That means most audiences will not be able to appreciate Lawrence’s performance, which would be a complete disservice to her. Ramsay owed her more than that for her dedication. Directors are the visionaries of the film, but she should have taken her blinders off and created something 10, maybe 15% more accessible, instead of a movie that will be forgotten shortly and only has a chance at longevity if Lawrence takes home an award or two. “Die My Love” earns flying colors in the technical categories on my score card, but the lack of engagement brings it down to a 3 out of 5.

Genre: Drama
Rating: R (Language|Graphic Nudity|Sexual Content|Some Violent Content)
Runtime: 1h 58m
Release Date (Theaters): November 7th, 2025, Wide
Director: Lynne Ramsay
Screenwriter: Lynne Ramsay, Enda Walsh
Producer: Martin Scorsese, Jennifer Lawrence, Justine Ciarrocchi, Molly Smith, Thad Luckinbill, Trent Luckinbill, Andrea Calderwood