Kramer vs. Kramer (1979)
Starring Dustin Hoffman, Meryl Streep & Justin Henry
Directed by Robert Benton
Rating: ★★★
Another film often regarded as a ‘classic’, I have heard so much about it and have never even seen it! Unfortunately, so many pop cultural references come from this movie that I knew almost the entire plot, but I have to say that it is still a good film to watch, mainly because of the Academy Award winning turns of both Dustin Hoffman (Best Actor) and Meryl Streep (Best Supporting Actress).
The film focuses on Ted Kramer, a workaholic who returns home from the office to find that his wife Joanna has had enough and is leaving him and their son Billy. Most of the film is a true 1970s Americana depiction of a man having to both work and take care of the child, something that I’m, sure was pretty ‘out there’ back then, but still is very emotional and endearing to watch. After almost two years of leaving, Joanna decides that she has ‘found herself’ (in a true 70s feminist way) and decides to take Ted to court for custody of their son.
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| Ted definitely loves his son! |
Even though the film is over 30 years old, it still holds up, mainly because it isn’t too 70s (thank goodness that there’s no disco soundtrack) and also because the central issue to the film, a single man raising a child alone, is still sadly seen by contemporary society in the same way. We all know that even now, if a woman wanted to take a child away from its father, that the woman would win and that the man would be screwed over by an unfair and sexist system. Even now there are stories in the news about women who are granted custody of their children, even when they have severe mental health problems or are abusive, and the fathers are not and would be able to take better care of their children. This issue is even addressed in the film, when Ted, speaking in court, tries to define what a good parent is, and says that it has nothing to do with a person’s gender. But sadly not much has changed, and while feminist law has triumphed, it has trumped the rights for men. Will this ever change?
The film also won Best Director, Best Picture and Best Adapted Screenplay at the Academy Awards, and it is obvious why, since a film like this just screams ‘Oscar bait’! But the film is good and has withstood the test of time. Even though it is a bit sappy at times (but not to a vomit inducing point luckily) I did enjoy watching it, although I really feel that the ‘happy’ ending was tagged on just for the sake of the audience. I think we all know that if this had happened in real life, the woman would have won, taken the child, and then everybody would have lost, and I think that would have been a much more powerful and true to life ending that would resonate with the audience long after they had finished watching it.
So if you want to see a sentimental father and son drama, that features issues that are still very much relevant to today, this is a film to watch!
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