Between the emotional rollercoaster of that nearly 30-minute one take and Vanessa Kirby’s sensational performance, Pieces of a Woman is mesmerizing cinema through and through. Award-winning Hungarian director Kornél Mundruczó, who last shook me to my core with the politically charged dog-based drama White God, presents a skillfully-crafted observation of a woman regaining control of her life after a traumatic loss.

Before diving in, I feel the need to note that this film and its portrayal of infant death could be triggering.

The film takes place in Boston, mid-September. Young couple Martha (Vanessa Kirby) and Sean (Shia LaBeouf) anticipate their daughter’s arrival; looking at minivans, decorating the nursery, and preparing for the home birth are just some of the tasks left to accomplish before welcoming their baby girl. They could never have imagined that the future they so joyously mapped out was charting drastically off course.

Despite frantic attempts to resuscitate the fastly-declining newborn, the couple’s midwife Eva (Molly Parker) is unable to save the baby in what can only be described as a fluke. It’s an unexpected shock for everyone, most of all for Martha, who expresses her heartache, anger, and apathy in various ways. This stillbirth has not only stolen her future, but it also stalls her relationship with Sean and presents personal challenges she must face head-on to move on.

As humans, we try to find (or create) answers to problems to justify why bad things happen to good people. It’s easier to comprehend bad news if we feel like there is a reason for it; we flounder in uncertainty. This psychological dilemma is seen when blame is immediately placed on Eva, despite the very plausible possibility of the baby’s death being of natural causes. Instead of picking out car seats, Martha is picking out headstones, a reality that her mother Elizabeth (Ellen Burstyn) will not accept. One scene-stealing monologue, where Elizabeth chokes back tears of anger and remorse, is the definition of heartbreaking. Although she comes from a place of love, her overbearingness only frustrates Martha more. Elizabeth wants to take Martha’s pain away but doesn’t realize that her overprotectiveness is only making the pain worse.

The 24-minute, uninterrupted home birth scene… This one-shot is impeccable, the choreography is both fluid and chaotic, and I found myself holding my breath in anticipation of what was to come.

Written by Kata Wéber and executive produced by Martin Scorsese, Mundruczó’s Pieces of a Woman is a performance-driven tour de force. The film consists of small details that create a tsunami of emotional catharsis. The result is a raw glimpse at the physical and psychological after-effects of a loss that is rarely portrayed onscreen. Martha is a layered character who isn’t always likable as she goes through her grieving process. She becomes emotionally reckless, detached, and selfish, but we never feel compelled to villanize her. Here, Mundruczó shows there is no right way to grieve, and Vanessa Kirby’s embodiment of a shattered woman trying to put the pieces together is powerful.

Now, the scene you’ve probably heard about: The 24-minute, uninterrupted home birth scene. This one-shot is impeccable, the choreography is both fluid and chaotic, and I found myself holding my breath in anticipation of what was to come. Kirby and Parker’s dynamic in this scene is the epitome of feminine strength and is by far the most unforgettable scene in the whole film. Personal controversy aside, Shia LaBeouf gives an expectedly herculean performance as Sean. However, it’s difficult to separate the art from the artist, especially when he gets sexually aggressive, physically abusive, and verbally degrading towards Martha.

In addition to the top-billed cast, appearances by Benny Safdie, Sarah Snook, and Jimmie Fails are fun surprises. Complementing the onscreen visuals is Howard Shore’s score, whose composition of light piano strokes and harmonic vocals play like a baby’s lullaby.

Kornél Mundruczó once again doesn’t shy away from the reality of human existence. It can be gritty and hard and unfair, but life will only beat you down if you let it. Pieces of a Woman shows that resilience is the only way forward, and there is light just on the other side of the darkness.

Distributed by Netflix, Pieces of a Woman is available to stream on Thursday, January 7, 2021.