Lynne Ramsay on the Film That Redefined Modern Cinema

Lynne Ramsay’s journey from Scottish-set dramas to larger-scale American productions has never diluted her fascination with the inner lives of her characters. Her latest project, Die, My Love, delves into the harrowing descent of a woman grappling with postnatal depression and psychosis. The narrative, echoing her protagonist’s unraveling, leaves viewers with a lingering sense of unease. This exploration of maternal turmoil is just one thread in Ramsay’s tapestry of work, which consistently returns to themes of womanhood, loss, and the search for meaning or belonging.

Before Die, My Love, Ramsay examined a mother’s guilt and confusion in the aftermath of her son’s violent acts in We Need To Talk About Kevin. Earlier still, she captured the unpredictable nature of grief in Morvern Callar, a quietly powerful piece anchored by Samantha Morton’s nuanced performance. Across her films, Ramsay is drawn to the everyday cruelties of existence, often presenting them with a restraint that sets her apart from more sensationalist fare. The opening of Morvern Callar is a case in point: rather than a dramatic outburst, the lead character’s response to tragedy is marked by stillness and silence, the Christmas lights flickering as she processes her new reality.

Influences and Inspirations

Ramsay’s creative influences are as varied as they are distinguished. She has long admired the gritty realism of British directors like Alan Clarke and Tony Richardson, while also drawing inspiration from international auteurs such as Ingmar Bergman, Agnès Varda, and Lina Wertmüller. Yet, her sources of inspiration are not confined to the past. She has openly expressed her admiration for a more recent work, a black-and-white feature that has garnered widespread acclaim.

It can be difficult to predict which contemporary films will stand the test of time, but Ramsay is unequivocal in her praise for Alfonso Cuarón’s Oscar-winning Roma. She describes it as a film that crafts an epic out of the everyday, immersing audiences in the lives of its central characters. In her words,

“making an epic drama of two women’s everyday life and life-changing events into totally immersive cinema”

and

“The sound and image make you feel you’re inside it, experiencing her [Cleo]. Virtual reality, but more emotional. Incredible on the big screen. If you have to see it smaller with the best sound system.”

Roma’s Lasting Impact

Upon its release in 2018, Roma was met with critical acclaim. The story follows a housekeeper in 1970s Mexico City, living with a family far wealthier than herself. Through this lens, the film explores class, identity, and the social rifts that shape human experience. Cuarón’s work is suffused with affection and nostalgia, which perhaps explains the flurry of awards it attracted. Ramsay is particularly struck by its technical mastery and emotional resonance, remarking,

“A modern classic, a rarity now. Technically unmatched. Every detail and moment, so considered but feel just happened upon. So many scenes remain indelibly seared on the brain, the surrealism of life, the connections, horror, humour and beauty.”

It is easy to see why Ramsay holds the film in such high regard. Roma shares her preoccupation with themes of grief and gender, subjects she returns to time and again. She concludes,

“Reminding what a movie can (still) do really inspired me”

, underscoring the profound effect the film has had on her own creative practice.