Movies

The American psychological drama and dark comedy If I Had Legs, I’d Kick You, directed by Mary Bronstein, follows Linda (Rose Byrne), an exhausted New York psychotherapist and mother who is pushed to her limits by her personal crisis. When her apartment ceiling literally collapses on her one day, she must confront another crisis and move into a budget motel with her young daughter. Meanwhile, she must deal with sluggish contractors, her child’s mysterious illness, an absent husband, a missing patient and a host of people who are either unable or unwilling to help her.

The film's significance lies in its unflinching portrayal of the unrealistic social expectations placed on mothers. Bronstein crafts a claustrophobic yet cathartic experience that refuses to romanticise parental burnout, offering a rarely seen, deeply honest perspective on female isolation.

The critically acclaimed film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival, subsequently earning Byrne the prestigious Silver Bear for Best Leading Performance at the Berlin International Film Festival. Her awards-season success continued with wins at the Golden Globe and Independent Spirit Awards, as well as an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress, cementing the film’s status as one of the standout titles of the 2026 awards season.