Jennifer Lawrence Stuns in Lynne Ramsay’s ‘Die, My Love’ at Cannes 2025

Acclaimed filmmaker Lynne Ramsay returned to the Cannes Film Festival with her much-anticipated psychological drama Die, My Love, which made its world premiere at the 78th edition of the prestigious event. Starring Jennifer Lawrence and Robert Pattinson in lead roles, the film is based on Ariana Harwicz's 2017 novel of the same name and explores the unsettling journey of a new mother descending into psychosis triggered by postpartum depression.

Jennifer Lawrence plays Grace, a woman grappling with the pressures of motherhood and unraveling mental health, while Robert Pattinson essays the role of Jackson, her emotionally distant husband. The supporting cast includes LaKeith Stanfield, Sissy Spacek, and Nick Nolte.

Die, My Love received a six-minute standing ovation at its Cannes premiere, with critics offering mixed to positive early reviews. However, nearly all agree on one point — Lawrence’s performance is among the finest of her career.

Damon Wise from Deadline highlighted the potential awards season buzz surrounding her performance, stating, "America knows very well how good Jennifer Lawrence can be, and this could well mean a fifth Oscar nomination if it lands in savvy hands." He also praised Ramsay’s direction, noting her “canny way of handling buildup and withholding catharsis.”

Matt Neglia from Next Best Picture was equally impressed, calling Lawrence’s portrayal of “postnatal mental collapse” as “easily her most fearless & best performance” since Mother (2017).

Tim Grierson of Screen Daily lauded her “volcanic performance” while commending her restraint in avoiding melodrama. He remarked, "The Oscar-winning actress gives a volcanic performance that is nonetheless very controlled, avoiding melodramatic theatrics. Pattinson plays off his costar superbly, giving us an inattentive husband who comes to realise how little he understands about his wife."

David Rooney of The Hollywood Reporter described the film’s emotional arc as ultimately rewarding, noting a sequence that “rescues it from being one long, taxing bipolar episode.” He added that the closing stretch turns the narrative “from a self-destructive solo show to a thoughtful examination of a complex relationship and all the patience and understanding it requires.”

Emma Kiely from Collider emphasized Ramsay’s evolving cinematic style and Lawrence’s exceptional work: "Die, My Love is further proof that no one is doing it like Lynne Ramsay, whose technique and style continue to evolve, as she draws out a career-best performance from Jennifer Lawrence in a must-see thriller spectacle that turns a single woman’s experience into a brutally honest psychological epic."

Meanwhile, Variety’s Owen Gleiberman viewed the film as a layered psychological statement, observing, “The film is designed, rather, as a kind of thesis movie: reckless on the surface but overdetermined. And I think that’s why Jennifer Lawrence’s performance feels so explosive but, at the same time, so emotionally reined in.”

Die, My Love marks Ramsay’s return to directing after an eight-year hiatus and is currently in contention for the Palme d'Or. With its emotionally intense narrative, stylized direction, and standout performances, the film positions itself as a potential awards-season heavyweight, particularly for Lawrence, who many believe has delivered a defining performance of her career.