KRAMER vs KRAMER

US, 1979, 105 minutes, Colour.
Dustin Hoffman, Meryl Streep, Jane Alexander, Justin Henry, Howard Duff, Jo Beth Williams.
Directed by Robert Benton.

Kramer vs. Kramer is a fine blend of topical realism and sentiment that works on a popular level and has much to say on marriage, the need for working at it for success, divorce, single parenthood for both mother and father and the repercussions for the child. Dustin Hoffman, always excellent, has one of his best roles, sharing many scenes with the small Justin Henry (a very persuasive young actor) and Merrill Streep continues to show her versatility in a less sympathetic role. Jane Alexander is very good as a neighbour. Tellingly written and directed by Robert Benton, with fine powers of observation, this satisfying film shows us the power of cinema.

1. Impact of the film? Entertainment, interest, topical, message? Accurate presentation of social situations? People's responses?

2. The popularity of the film? Its awards? Merited? The quality of the cast and their contribution?

3. The atmosphere of New York, apartments, work, the law courts, the streets? The use of classical music?

4. The editing, the pace? The importance of the attention to detail? The constant use of close-ups for information, revelation of character? Groupings?

5. Audience presuppositions about marriage, permanency, commitment? The reality of separation and crisis? The traumas of divorce? The process, the evidence, court case, hurt for the couple, for the children? The focus on Joanne and Ted and the parallel with Margaret and Charlie? The realities of men and women changing throughout their marriage? The effect on themselves, the effect on the children?

6. The breakdown of marriage, separation and divorce - the blame, fault, responsibility? The acknowledgement of responsibility and its consequences? The moral rights, legal rights? The nature of justice? Rights towards the children?

7. Audience presuppositions about motherhood and fatherhood? The time of parenting etc.? In the Kramer case with Joanne mothering the boy for seven years? Ted fathering the boy for 18 months? The crucial periods, influence, love? The time of parenting as a basis for the court's justice?

8. The necessity of the courts, the search for justice, the focus on truth and accuracy rather than on feeling and emotions? The objectivity of situations rather than the involvement of people? The clarity of statement and statements being taken out of context from witnesses? The traumatic effect of the court on the parents? The repercussions on the child? The legality of the 'no holds barred' approach? Time, emotional drain, high financial costs?

9. The dramatic effectiveness of the screenplay? An adaptation from a novel? The opening moments and the strong focus on Joanne, her love for Billy, her turmoil? The use of close-ups and Meryl Streep's strong screen presence? Her absence from the screen for almost an hour? The audience sustaining the initial impression and her reasons for leaving? The contrast with Ted and his busyness? The arrival home and the confrontation with Joanne's leaving? The long sequences of Ted looking after Billy? The shift of audience sympathies? The build-up to Joanne's re-entrance? The clash? The court ruling and the final decision?

10. Meryl Streep's award-winning performance as Joanne? Screen presence, her expression, the use of close-ups? The tenderness of her love? Her emotional confusion? Packing, waiting, Ted's arrival, their interaction, the suitcase, her hurried departure, the lift? Audience responding to the break-up and seeing it as Ted's fault? Seeing him at work, business, jokes and drinks, a whole history of years of self focus and not being aware of Joanne? Her later return: in the street, at the window, the meeting with the discussion at the cafe and the glass of wine, the explanation of her change and the American experience of self-fulfilment? Psychology? Her wanting to see Billy again?

11. Joanne and her rights to see Billy? Court injunctions? The outing and her joy at being reunited with him? The impact of this on Ted as he watched it?

12. The initial audience response to Ted and his work, chatter? The best days of his life and Joanne's spoiling them? His not believing that she would leave? His gradually becoming shattered, ringing Margaret, hope for reconciliation, blame? The build-up to the court case and the confrontation with Joanne?

13. The beginning of Ted's life looking after Billy? Waking up, the routine of the morning, his beginning to realise how much Joanne did, the farce of the breakfast (and the later reprisal of this at the end when Billy was leaving and their easy routine and efficiency)? His getting Billy to school? His comment on how Joanne managed? Back to work, his commissions, jobs and ambitions? The discussions with Jim? His declaration that he was a winner? The varied detail of his looking after Billy, trying to entertain him, meals at home, television, clashes of temperament? School - and Billy talking about the other mothers? His having to face the reality of being mother and father to Billy?

14. The film's not including details of the court aspects of the separation? Not having divorce in the horizon of what was to happen? Ted's taking it for granted that he would always be looking after Billy?

15. The focus on Billy: the performance of Justin Henry (and Oscar nomination?), cuteness, age, the waking sequence and asking about his mother, the various links with the memory of his mother (and Ted's taking away all her memories including the photos)? The breakfast sequence, the school sequences, Ted being late and Billy having to be minded, the tantrum about the ice cream - Ted's continued threats, Billy's defiance, the punishment and the later reconciliation? Joanne's letter and Ted's reading it to Billy and the emotional effect? The television? Billy feeling that it was his fault that his mother left and Ted's attempts at reassurance? The changing pattern of their life and the bonds between father and son? The interlude with Phyllis and Billy encountering her in the corridor? The school play and his being prompted, Ted sitting with the other parents? The accident and Billy's being rushed to hospital by Ted running along the streets? The quality of the sequences building up the relationship of father and son?

16. The repercussions on Ted: being father and mother, his concern, having to alter appointments? The discussions with Jim and the threats? The dinner and his being fired - and his comment calling shame on Jim? The search for jobs? The interview and the atmosphere of the Christmas party? His willingness to take a drop in salary? His needing the work for the court case? The impact of the reviews on himself as a person? His taking Billy to see his new office?

17. The build-up to the divorce proceedings? The encounter with Joanne, the discussion over the white wine and the clash?

18. Ted's lawyer and his taking the case, toughness, details of preparation, testing Ted's emotional reactions, the conditions for seeing Billy, the costs, the issues, his needing work, reputation?

19. The repercussions on Billy: meeting Joanne, his being puzzled, the support during the case, the loss of the case and his having to go with his mother - and the model and efficient breakfast contrasting with the beginning? His concerns about his new home?

20. The details of the case: tactics, the condemnation of Ted - and the audience knowing that in fact it was true but that he had changed? Joanne and the truth about her early years and her learning self-assertion? Her being the mother for so many years and that giving her a right over Billy?

21. The use of information against Ted? His signalling to her that she was not at fault? Joanne's walking out and the confrontation with Ted? The success for her of the case? The apology for the tactics?

22. The complexity of the issues? The decision of the court? The lawyer informing Ted and the pain? His having to cope, help Billy to go to his mother?

23. The sub-plot with Margaret: as a friend of Joanne and supporting her, the initial clash with Ted, the growing friendship, telling her own story - and her continued love for Charlie, her child, her not dating him, the accident and her blaming herself, her appearance in the court and supporting Ted, her plea and being called out of order, her trying to visit Ted when the case went against him and his refusing? The parallel of Margaret's experience with that of Joanne and Ted?

24. The emotional impact of the ending on the audience? Ted preparing to let Billy go? The repercussions of visiting him on weekends etc.? His wise treatment of Billy? Joanne's arrival? Her realising the reality of Billy moving from his own home? What decision would Joanne and Ted make? Was reconciliation possible? Through Billy - for Billy?

25. The film's portrayal of supporting characters, strength of characterisations and their contribution to the film: Jim and his support of Ted, friendship, jokes, contracts, Jim's wariness, the final firing? Phyllis as secretary, dates, the sexual liaison, the experience in the corridor? The lawyers and their doing their job? Ted's lawyer and his personal support?

26. The overall impact of the film? Long lasting effect? Insight into people? Situations? No pat answers?