i've marinated this movie in my head for 24 hours and read the summary of the book it was based on as well. i think my first impression was pretty spot on and adjacent to what was being described in the book: this story's about the effects of isolation and depression and being mentally ill and the people around you just not getting it. even tho grace's state of mind during the course of this movie can be described as being on the extreme end of post-partum depression, that's not where her problems start; rather, having a kid inflates previously existing symptoms and the lack of support and understanding on her husband's end surely does not help. grace is so alone and spiraling. she's a writer who can't write, who's lost the joy of making art. nothing feels good anymore. she has become extremely neurotic for it, or she always was and it's not controlled anymore. by the end of the story she releases her inhibitions and walks into the fire. ambiguous ending sure but we can ascertain what happened. i was a fan of the prolonged one-take opening scene with the stationary camera—it was so good because that scene alone give you so much information about the relationship between the characters and what's happening and where they're at. on a technical level this movie stood out fr. the aspect ratio, the color grading and visuals: sublime. n e ways not much to comment on except for the loose thread with harry and the biker. good on pam for being an understanding mother-in-law tho.
