Motherhood can be a beautiful and wonderful thing. But with the swell of hormones and emotions, along with the stress of becoming a parent, it can take a toll on the women who give birth. That’s something that’s explored in depth in Lynne Ramsay’s new film Die My Love, which opens Friday.

The film is based on the book of the same name from Ariana Harwicz. It’s based on a script from Ramsay, Enda Walsh and Alice Birch. It made its debut at the Cannes Film Festival and now is getting a wide release to audiences.

The film focuses on a couple who move to from the big city to a farm in rural Montana. It’s the home of Jackson’s (Robert Pattinson) uncle who recently passed. It’s isolated and remote, but Grace (Jennifer Lawrence) is in love and wants to make it work. As a writer, she can ply her skills anywhere.

Soon, Grace ends up pregnant. It’s a time of big transition as they prepare for the birth of their child. Jackson’s family, including his mother (Sissy Spacek), are local and there for support. But the birth changes things for Grace.

She begins to struggle with the isolation and the strain of parenthood. She begins to lose herself and her identity. And it begins to take a toll on her relationship with Jackson. Though he and others try to offer support, the struggle for Grace is one inside that they can’t reach. Will it consume her and her relationship?

We talk a lot about the beauty of giving birth and becoming a parent. And it is a beautiful thing. But, for many, it also brings a struggle. Post-partum depression is a real and difficult thing to grapple with. That’s at the heart of the focus of this film.

I have never experienced what Grace has gone through. I will never feel what she’s felt. But this film does a beautiful job of trying to convey the difficulty of that struggle and what it does to someone’s emotions, mental state, and their world. At the heart of this film is a tremendous performance from Lawrence.

Lawrence was given the book and her production company championed bringing it to the screen. You can tell this is a deeply personal passion project. That passion and commitment comes through every frame. It’s a moving, intense, and raw portrait of this woman. It’s an incredible performance from a great actress, and one of the best performances of the year so far.

There are some good supporting performances, too. Pattison has a tough and somewhat thankless role here, but he does a nice job playing off Lawrence. I also really enjoyed Spacek. She only has a few scenes, but I thought she was good opposite Lawrence and really added depth to the film.

Ramsay does a wonderful job bringing this to life. There is a surrealist aspect to much of this as we explore the struggle in Grace’s mind and soul. The imagery is vivid, and it brings the story to life in a rich and moving way. It’s difficult material and a difficult journey, but the way it’s constructed keeps you in the moment. It takes a tough topic and brings it to life in an engaging way. For those who enjoy great performances and great art, it’s worth making a point to check out this film as it opens this week.

Die My Love opens nationwide on Friday, November 7.

Matthew Fox is a graduate of the Radio, Television and Film program at Biola University, and a giant nerd. He spends his free time watching movies, TV, and obsessing about football. He is a member of the FSWA. You can find him @knighthawk7734 on Twitter and as co-host of the Fantasy Football Roundtable Podcast.