While trying to manage her own life and career, Linda, a woman on the verge of a breakdown, must cope with her daughter's illness, an absent husband, a missing person, and an unusual relationship with her therapist. This thriller pulls you straight into her spiraling world.
Genre: psychological drama, thriller
Language: English, subtitles: Dutch
Length: 1 hr 53 mins (2025)
Linda is constantly trying to keep everything together, but the pressure keeps building. Her daughter’s mysterious illness demands all her attention, her husband is never around to help, and the patients in her practice are becoming increasingly demanding. As if that is not enough, a massive leak in the ceiling forces her to temporarily move into a motel.
What follows is an intense, unsettling portrait of motherhood, stress, and losing control. Rose Byrne carries the film with a raw, gripping performance, supported by striking roles from talk show host Conan O’Brien and rapper A$AP Rocky. Director Mary Bronstein turns parental pressure into a feverish cinematic experience: uncomfortable, compelling, and almost impossible to look away from.
The SG Film Committee recommends this because Linda is doing what modern society seems to expect from every mother: excel at work, raise a child, keep the house running, and somehow stay sane through it all, while receiving little help from her husband. As the pressure mounts, everyday chaos quickly turns into something far more intense. A funny, nerve-wracking thriller featuring last year's best female lead performance.
Awards
Won the Silver Bear for Best Leading Performance for Rose Byrne at the Berlin International Film Festival. It also received Gotham Award nominations for Best Feature, Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, and Outstanding Lead Performance.
Reviews
“If I Had Legs I’d Kick You is a brutally honest black comedy that delves into the emotional chaos of motherhood.” TIME
“Rose Byrne gives a tour de force performance in impressively sustained but taxing motherhood nightmare.” The Hollywood Reporter
“Linda makes dozens of bad decisions in ‘If I Had Legs I’d Kick You,’ many of them seemingly indefensible until you realize that just how utterly isolated she feels.” Los Angeles Times
SG & ITEC registration for bachelor’s students
Please register for SG & ITEC by scanning your student ID card at the venue.
More information about SG & ITEC can be found here.
Ticket information
This film will be shown at Filmhuis De Zwarte Doos.
- Tickets must be purchased online in advance and can be bought by clicking the black “Order” button on this page.
- Cash or card payments are not accepted at the ticket counter.
For more information about tickets, refund policies, and other details, click here.
Please be on time
The screening of the film begin promptly at 19:30 (with no pre-film advertisements), and the cinema hall will open at 19:10. We kindly request that you arrive at the ticket counter at least 10 minutes before the start of the film to ensure a smooth and timely experience for all.
The Studium Generale film program is created in collaboration with the Student Film Committee and Natlab.