Not a silent struggle: 'If I Had Legs I'd Kick You' review

In the same vein as Cassavetes' A Woman Under The Influence, the film follows therapist Linda (Rose Byrne) as her life becomes increasingly more pressurised by her absent husband and sickly daughter as well as the gaping hole in her ceiling which has forced her and her daughter to move into a motel.

Since leaving the cinema I've heard many comparisons to Uncut Gems and Marty Supreme and to be honest, it sets me on edge. While the title sequence and constant hum of tension prove the film undeniably bears a Safdie-esque touch, Linda is nothing like the unsympathetic and obnoxious protagonists of the other two. Instead of some kind of addict or selfish individual only in pursuit of something arbitrary, she is trying to help her daughter get well.

Unlike Howard Ratner or Marty Mauser, you feel no internal conflict in rooting for Linda. While she doesn't come across as entirely likeable, this feels almost irrelevant - I mean, how likeable would you be in her situation?

What I thoroughly enjoyed about this film is how it is not about a silent struggle; Linda is plenty loud about what she is going through, it is just that no one else actually listens. While it is often said that mental health struggles are bore silently, Bronstein demonstrates the equally true reality of pleading for help and being ignored. This feels especially true for women who seek medical help, demonstrated best by Linda's colleague (Conan O'Brien) who continuously downplays her issues and remains unbothered, as well as the doctor of her daughter's treatment programme who constantly criticises her for not doing enough. Interestingly, O'Brien's character is unnamed, supporting the idea that he functions more as a face for the medical establishment's attitudes towards struggling women rather than just a singular bad doctor.

Though I'm not usually a fan of star casting, O'Brien and A$AP Rocky play their parts well though admittedly their presence takes you out of the film slightly. Contrastingly, it is Rose Byrne who is absolutely captivating, her Oscar nomination is nothing short of deserved. While Jessie Buckley's performance in Hamnet was moving, Byrne's is infinitely more memorable and moving. Indeed, it would be satisfying to see the film take home a major Academy Award after failing to bag a nomination for Best Picture, despite Marty Supreme doing so.

With the recent celebrations for International Women's Day and Mother's Day, there's no better time to head to cinemas and remind yourself why the celebrations are much needed.