MARRIAGE STORY
US, 2019, 136 minutes, Colour.
Adam Driver, Scarlett Johansson, Laura Dern, Ray Liotta, Alan Alda, Julie Hagerty, Azhy Robertson, Merritt Weaver, Wallace Shawn.
Directed by Noah Baumbach.
The sad truth is that for many decades, many Marriage Stories are actually Divorce Stories. And so with this one, a divorce in close-up, tension between husband and wife, questions about the effect on the young son.
It is not exactly new material but, the screenplay and direction by Noah Baumbach is very strong, very harrowing, emotionally challenging. This has been a feature of his previous films, some of them quite striking, especially The Squid and the Whale. He also directed Margot at the Wedding, Greenberg, Frances Ha,
While audiences know that they are going to see a film about breakup and divorce, this film begins deceptively with statements of admiration by each of the spouses, written so that they can participate in mediation. They are visualised and so the audience can see how the couple met, fell in love, married. And then the tone immediately changes and we see how they have fallen out of love while there are still strong bonds between them.
This is a film of dialogue, a lot of words, words with power in them, many words of conflict between husband and wife. But, while intending to mediate their separation and get the divorce declared, they both eventually go to the lawyers. This is definitely not a pro-lawyers screenplay. Laura Dern is a smilingly dominating lawyer employed by the wife, smilingly no-holds-barred. The husband goes to a seemingly dispassionate lawyer, Ray Liotta. Finding him too hard/ harsh, the husband then goes to a much more genial lawyer, Alan Alda. But, court proceedings seem inevitable and the husband goes back to Ray Liotta.
Much praise for Scarlett Johansson and Adam Driver as the couple. It certainly is one of Scarlett Johansson's best performances, partly sympathetic, partly exasperating, a loving mother, but focused on her ambitions as an actress, focused on Los Angeles where she grew up (with her mother, an amusing turn by Julie Hagerty) rather than on New York where her husband is a much-praised theatre director in a small company but bound for Broadway. Adam Driver has recently given quite a range of excellent performances, from Silence, The Dead Don't Die, Patterson, in the American political drama, The Report and the Star Wars villain).
As the couple argue, consult their lawyers, experience court proceedings, audience sympathies may well veer from one to the other. Each has reasonable desires for the marriage, careers and the future. Each has unreasonable demands, much self-centred concern. However, this is always mitigated by their love for their eight-year-old son and the lawyer is continually reminding them that they have to decide what is best for the boy.
Many of us, at some stage or another, will have become involved with people who are going through divorce. Noah Baumbach's screenplay makes us realise that separation, divorce, court proceedings are not something to be taken on likely (and non-American audiences may gasp, be aghast at the enormous fees demanded by lawyers and the consequences for divisions of property, cost-cutting into savings, the costs determining directions for the future).
Marriage Story cannot be described as an entertainment, it is too close to harsh aspects of real-life, harrowing aspects. But, as a way of leading the audience into contemplating realities, trying to understand how differences could be overcome, healthy compromises made, this expertly made and acted film offers serious challenges.
1. The title? The marriage story? A marriage-breakup story? A divorce story?
2. The world of New York, apartments, theatre, rehearsals and performance? The contrast with Los Angeles, atmosphere, the city of space, family, television production, legal advice for the courts? The musical score?
3. The introduction, the two testimonies read aloud, visualised, the better aspects of each character? For the mediation? Nicole refusing to read hers aloud? Breaking the mediation?
4. Nicole, her character, her interpretation of the situations, the issues of marriage, divorce, custody of Henry? Her initial love for Charlie, marrying him, her bond with her mother and sister in Los Angeles, moving to New York, the theatre, her career, rehearsals, the posters? Her contribution to Charlie’s success as a director? 10 years, careful Henry? Going to Los Angeles, the television series, the filming, the crowd with directors and writers and discussion? Her desire to succeed, to have a career? Agreeing to the mediation, going to Nora for advice, the buildup to argument leading to harsh dispute?
5. Charlie, his life, family background, hard father? His success in the theatre, his creativity, skill with directing, success, possibilities going to Broadway? Marrying Nicole, love for her, his love for Henry and being with him? His shock at the breakup, the threat for divorce? The mediation and its failure?
6. His travels to Los Angeles, back and forth, having time with Henry, the issue of custody, the divorce issues, his need for finance, the grant to the theatre, going to Jay for legal advice, the harsh advice, warning about Nora? His going to Bert, Bert and his friendliness, practical advice, yet the perspective of the court?
7. Nora, blasé in manner, wanting to win, the discussions with Nicole? The contrast with Jay and his severity, Charlie put off? More at home with Bert but frustrated?
8. The effect of Charlie, his range of friends in New York, the members of his company?
9. His good father, with Henry? And yet the continued bonds of friendship and care between Nicole and Charlie?
10. Both Charlie and Nicole, their self-focus, careers, the consequences?
11. Nicole and her family, her mother and her friendliness, the sister and her harsh attitudes?
12. The revelation about Charlie and his affair, the effect? Nicole later going on dates, romance?
13. Henry, his age, experiences in New York, friends, experiencing the tensions, his own character as wilful, wanting stability, to stay on Los Angeles?
14. The court sequences, the bitterness, the divorce, the issue of money, Nora and extra time of custody for Nicole, allowing Charlie the grant?
15. Charlie, his decision to take a job in Los Angeles, the future, possible reconciliation?
