The Meaning Behind the Incendiary Ending of Die My Love

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The title Die My Love might seem confusing given that the movie has been largely described as a story about postpartum depression. However, at its heart, the film is actually a tragic love story.

I just saw Lynne Ramsay’s latest, and wow, it’s a really unsettling film. It follows Grace, played by Jennifer Lawrence, and her boyfriend Jackson (Robert Pattinson) as they move from New York to this incredibly isolated part of Montana. Jackson’s inherited a house from an uncle who tragically took his own life, and they’re hoping to start a family there. But once their baby, Harry, arrives, things start to fall apart. Jackson is frequently away, and Grace slowly begins to unravel mentally. It’s heartbreaking to watch, and honestly, there doesn’t seem to be any way out for her. It’s a dark, funny, and deeply disturbing movie.

The film is inspired by Ariana Harwicz’s 2012 novel of the same name, which director Lynne Ramsay describes as a strange and unsettling fairy tale. Ramsay intentionally played with the source material, collaborating with writers Enda Walsh and Alice Birch on the screenplay, leaving viewers to question what is real. The movie sparked discussion about themes of mental illness and motherhood when it premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in May, and its release in theaters on November 7th is expected to bring those conversations back to the forefront. Ramsay recently spoke with TIME to explain the film’s controversial ending.

An ominous beginning

At the start of the story, the couple is optimistic and full of dreams for their life together – from Grace writing a famous novel to just getting a pet cat. However, the opening scene subtly suggests trouble ahead. The camera, operated by Seamus McGarvey (who also worked with the director on We Need to Talk About Kevin), stays inside the house, following the couple as they explore their new, rundown home. This creates a sense of unease, making the audience suspect things won’t go as planned.

Ramsay decided to begin the story inside the house, a place where the character feels confined, because he found the location intriguing. He explains that it’s unusual to start a story this way – making the house feel like an observer rather than the observed. This approach unintentionally echoed elements of The Shining, another story about a couple—one struggling with writer’s block—who move into a home with a troubling history. Ramsay describes the location as having a presence of its own, similar to The Overlook Hotel.

Most notably, you can see the treeline – the place where Grace will ultimately die – right through the patio window. The film ends with a return to this shot, showing Grace looking from the outside at her supposed home.

Rather than being a story about postpartum depression, the film Die My Love actually explores the feeling of being disconnected from the life you’ve created – the gap between who you are inside and the life you’re living. According to Ramsay, the main character views herself as an outsider, examining her life as if she were a stranger.

Why does Grace and Jackson’s relationship fall apart?

Despite an underlying sense of unease, we’re quickly drawn into the intense and passionate relationship between Grace and Jackson. Their connection is immediately physical, reminiscent of a famous, charged wrestling scene from the 1968 film If. According to director Ramsay, there’s a disconnect: he loves her, but doesn’t truly understand her. What once made their relationship good – the strong physical connection, her free spirit, or past struggles with mental health – now feels amplified and creates distance between them.

As Grace’s mental health deteriorates, she finds condoms in Jackson’s car, making her doubt his faithfulness. Meanwhile, she’s also having risky encounters with another new parent, Karl, as a way to cope with the monotony of being a stay-at-home mom.

Jackson receives condoms from Greg (Luke Camilleri), a relatively unimportant character who is an old childhood friend. This encounter highlights Jackson’s return to his hometown and emphasizes Grace’s position as someone who doesn’t belong. Greg is mentioned several times, but only appears fleetingly – a quick glimpse at the party, according to director Ramsay. It’s easy to miss him if you’re not paying close attention.

Why does Grace disappear into the forest?

Similar to the ending in Harwicz’s novel, the story culminates in a failed homecoming. However, the situation is particularly awkward: Grace returns home after being released from a mental health facility. Desperate to regain her role as the ideal wife and mother, she bakes a cake with “welcome home” iced on top. But while she was away, her husband Jackson has completely renovated the house, making it feel foreign to her. According to Ramsay, it’s as if Grace no longer fits into the life they had planned. Despite this, Ramsay points out a certain poignancy in Jackson’s continued efforts, even as Grace seems to be moving on with her life.

Movies exploring the intense struggles of motherhood are becoming increasingly common, with films like If I Had Legs I’d Kick You and Nightbitch appearing recently. Director Ramsay draws inspiration from classic films such as A Woman Under the Influence (1974) and Repulsion (1965). In her new film, Die My Love, the main character, a new mother, increasingly resorts to extreme and violent behavior – like breaking through a window or scratching at walls. Despite her unhappiness, it’s clear she deeply loves her son, admitting to her therapist that the issue isn’t him, but everything else in her life. Interestingly, the actress, Lawrence, was over four months pregnant during filming, and Ramsay wanted to capture a particularly primal energy. She describes Lawrence as feeling powerful, raw, and possessing an almost animalistic quality.

Grace connects with Jackson’s mother, Pam (Sissy Spacek), who understands what she’s going through. Pam is a recent widow dealing with grief, and has a disturbing habit of sleepwalking while carrying a gun. She’s the first to notice Grace is troubled and allows her to escape the uncomfortable party. According to the director, Ramsay, Pam recognizes Grace needs to break free.

The biggest change Ramsay made from the original story is the dramatic fire Grace starts in the woods, representing the peak of her emotional pain. Ramsay explains the ending is symbolic: Grace destroys her unfinished manuscript, essentially burning everything she’s created. She considered a happier ending where Grace and Rob were reunited, but ultimately felt it was more powerful to end the story with the fire. Thankfully, the fire is far enough away that everyone at the party, including baby Harry, is safe. As Grace walks into the flames—with Jackson initially trying to stop her but eventually letting her go, seeming almost relieved—it’s implied that she doesn’t survive. Ramsay aimed for a sense of liberation rather than despair, wanting to show Grace reclaiming her power.

This story ultimately revolves around the complicated and troubled love between the two main characters. The song “In Spite of Ourselves” by John Prine, which was suggested by the music supervisor, perfectly captures the film’s hidden undercurrents. As the supervisor explained, despite its country sound, the song is surprisingly rebellious and reflects the messy, less appealing side of the couple’s relationship.

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2025-11-07 17:12