Pieces of a Woman

Marsha Stephanie Blake plays Vanessa Laine, a young and aspiring ballet dancer, while Vanessa Kirby takes on the role of her wife, Martha. They live a seemingly idyllic life in a loving relationship. Vanessa, expecting their child, is eager to give birth naturally, eschewing the conventional hospital setting for the familiar comfort of their home. Vanessa's water breaks, and she's instructed to contact the hospital to report her labor status. However, the plan changes, and Martha's sister, Ellen, an obstetric nurse, is called to assist with the delivery. Ellen, who possesses extensive knowledge of prenatal care, offers guidance to Vanessa during her labor. The tension builds between Ellen's professional approach and Vanessa's desire for a natural birth. Ellen is determined to help Vanessa deliver the baby safely, while Vanessa, though fearful, wants to maintain control over her birthing experience. As labor intensifies, the family is left reeling. Martha is beside herself with worry as the birth becomes increasingly complicated. Vanessa, who's grown accustomed to her partner's soothing voice and reassuring presence, begins to panic. In a moment of desperation, Martha calls an ambulance to take Vanessa to the hospital, but it's too late. The child, delivered stillborn, is discovered not breathing at birth. Vanessa is left with unimaginable grief and the burden of processing her loss within the isolation of their home. Martha is heartbroken, and their friends and family are either unprepared or unsympathetic to their situation. As the grief intensifies for Martha, Vanessa begins to push the loved ones in her life away. This rejection, coupled with Martha's own emotional devastation, forces the couple to drift apart. Martha starts to struggle to cope with the pain and guilt associated with the loss of their child. The narrative then shifts to a series of fragmented, disjointed, as well as often disturbing, visuals of home birth gone wrong, and the grief that follows. The couple begins to grow further apart, with their relationships becoming increasingly fractured. Vanessa is desperate to hold Martha accountable, not for the pain they're experiencing, but for Martha's perceived failure. Vanessa holds their partner responsible for the loss of their baby, an accusation that tears their relationship to shreds. Martha, desperate for a way to escape their isolation, turns to Ellen, her sister, for emotional support. Martha starts therapy with a bereaved mother support group where, along with Ellen and her husband, Martha struggles to cope with the loss of their child. Martha starts to open up about her grief with Ellen, who reveals that she lost her own child in a C-section many years ago. Martha and Ellen establish a deeper, unbreakable bond over their shared loss, which allows Martha to begin healing. Ellen helps Martha find her courage and eventually, her voice, as Martha starts to process their emotions. A glimmer of hope in their lives, as Martha starts to find solace through her bereaved mother support group, but Vanessa remains unwilling to confront the depth of her sorrow. The film's central conflict escalates as Martha and Vanessa's relationship reaches breaking point. They eventually part ways for their own healing and closure. Martha continues attending therapy and finds solace in her friendship with Ellen. Vanessa remains isolated and grief-stricken in their apartment. After a year of separation, Vanessa receives a call from Martha. Martha expresses the desire for both of them to find closure by attending therapy sessions together. The movie ends with Vanessa, slowly beginning her path toward healing, accompanied by Martha. In the end, the film leaves viewers questioning the nature of grief, and whether the couple was truly meant to be or if their bond was more fragile than they initially thought. The narrative leaves a lasting impression of the emotional pain and trauma associated with the loss of a child and the journey toward healing.