Kramer vs. Kramer (1979)
One of my biggest fears is to marry the wrong person, and end up divorcing after a couple of years of wasted illusion of happiness. Sadly, there is no right or perfect match, one has to take the risk and work hard in any relationship including marriage. The film Kramer vs. Kramer is a perfect example of a broken relationship that has one casualty which is the child. Every decision in life is a huge risk but marriage has to be the biggest one. One not only has to consider their happiness but the other’s happiness as well. This film is extremely complex but the portrayal of real life is very relevant. There are so many issues going on in this film it’s hard which one is more important than the other. Joanna Kramer (Meryl Streep) has lost her purpose while she got married and felt depress for choosing to marry and leaving her career. Her sanity was slowly fading every time she would do her duties as a mother and a wife, which she completely lost her own identity in the process of trying to follow the norms that society and her ideal of being a partner and mother should be. Ted Kramer (Dustin Hoffman) starts out as a very precocious busy man that works hard in order “to bring the bacon”, but he doesn't realize that part of being a good husband is also to show vulnerability and attention to his wife and son. With that combine it doesn't compare to the real damage that divorce does, and that is to a child. The child Billy Kramer (Justin Henry) has to cope that he won’t ever see his parents together and the first thing he is going to believe is that they separated because of him. He will constantly feel guilty and confuse that his mother left with no explanation. Growing up he may have trouble in trust or even consider not having a serious relationship. Whatever the fact divorce is never pretty it is always messy and no one is safe from the bitter consequences that leads after.
This film’s category is drama but it does have some comedic relief throughout. It was written and directed by Robert Benton.
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