Review Pieces of a Woman by Kornél Mundruczó: giant commercial for condom use

Mundruczó is probably one of the most respected contemporary filmmakers. Capable of the best (White Dog) as well as the worst (Jupiter's Moon seriously divided critics), he gives us his first American film, Pieces of a woman, the first English-language film, greeted with triumph by critics, who made it one of his favorites for the Oscars. Synopsis: A woman and a man. They love each other, are happy and look forward to the birth of their little girl. She dies just after birth. The father decides to sue the midwife and sinks into depression. The woman, on the other hand, tries to move on, ignoring her pain. The three lethal weapons of the Hungarian filmmaker are his (monstrous) birth sequence, his casting and his staging. A few minutes after the opening of the film Kornél Mundruczó tries to knock us out with a radical idea: Filming in a thirty-minute sequence shot the birth of Martha. A brilliant idea and radical by its realism. Never have we lived on a (small) screen, such a painful and realistic birth. Going crescendo, gradually turning into a scene of horror of everyday life, we suffocate with young parents, we are relieved when the child sees the world and horrified when life resumes the infant. The use of the steadycam is remarkably mastery, it accomplishes real feats. It's hard not to have compassion for the poor cameraman who had to twist in all directions. After this first half hour, which turns out to be a real shock, we are totally washed away by this ordeal. Following this homeric shot-sequence, it is difficult for Pieces of a Woman to match this piece of bravery. We quickly have the impression of witnessing a modern version of Eyes Wide Shut, by a common desire to show a realistic married life, and a realization using mainly long shots filmed at steadycam. Unfortunately, Pieces of A Woman does not manage to go beyond the status of a lesson in staging, to make feel the suffering of these characters after this absolutely breathtaking shot-sequence. One feels nothing of the hypnotic fascination that Kubrick's film can exude. Remains the performance of the impressive Vanessa Kirby, staggering as a woman torn by pain, but trying to remain dignified above all. It is to her that our fascination goes, as well as our admiration, making her one of the favorites of the Oscars. Despite some great moments of cinema, Pieces of a Woman fails to be truly moving. There are still great moments of bravery, an incredible actress and an excellent direction. Pieces of a Woman trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-2l3FfjVluw