Clubhouse Conversations — Die My Love

In this episode, cinematographer Seamus McGarvey, ASC, BSC is joined by interviewer Shelly Johnson, ASC to discuss his work on Die, My Love — a psychological drama from director Lynne Ramsay centered on a woman's battle with mental illness that threatens her grip on reality.

Die My Love tells the story of Grace (Jennifer Lawrence), a Montana mother who contends with postpartum depression and psychosis amid the unraveling of her marriage to Jackson (Robert Pattinson). The film had its world premiere at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival, where it was nominated for the Palme d'Or.

Conversation Highlights

McGarvey's conversation with Johnson explores a range of strategies, as well as the creative and practical challenges he encountered, including:

• How he and Ramsay designed the camera's perspective to align with the protagonist's mental state
• The tools and techniques he used to shoot day-for-night
• His decision to light most night interiors from outside
• His favoring of an improvisational, performance-driven shooting approach
• The rules set forth by the filmmakers that helped shape the film's visual language

Seamus McGarvey, ASC, BSC is a cinematographer whose feature credits include The Hours, The Avengers, Godzilla, The Accountant, Nocturnal Animals, Fifty Shades of Grey, We Need to Talk About Kevin, The Greatest Showman and Bad Times at the El Royale. He is a two-time ASC and Academy Award nominee, for his work in Atonement and Anna Karenina.

Shelly Johnson, ASC is a cinematographer whose feature credits include Jurassic Park III (2001), Hidalgo (2004), The Wolfman (2010), Captain America: The First Avenger (2011) and Greyhound (2020).

You’ll find all episodes in our ASC Clubhouse Conversations discussion series here.

Images courtesy of Mubi.