That's life

Rating: 9/10 (26 May 2020)

Spoilers ahead!
After hearing many good things about this film, and being quite interested in the subject - I've watched it with high expectations. Let me say - this is a very, very honest film. For as long as I can remember having opinion about film as an art form, I cherish movies that bring something personal and human to the screen. Most contemporary films lack this aspect, thus, are almost unwatchable for me. Marriage story is a story about two people who no longer see a reason to be together. Some will argue: oh, but the child!
But, the children we raise to become persons for themselves - not to tie them to us forever. I think many couples forget that. Children will eventually leave home but spouses shall remain together - unless there is no reason. I understood perfectly when Nicole Said: "I will always love him." It's not a romantic love - it's love towards another person - a person with whom you shared a portion of your life, but you do not wish to share bed or dinner every night with anymore. That's life. I've had s relationship that ended this way - the guys was my first love, first everything, but, at one point it didn't make sense anymore. Divorce also happens without "obvious reasons" as some complained that this movie doesn't show us all the reasons. But, when you lose yourself, when you feel like it's about someone else rather than about the two of you, and to feel it constantly, it can be crushing. Had she stayed with him, I can even imagine the flame of envy starting to spark. Obviously she has no strenght to fight, he doesn't feel like he's doing anything wrong - there are no goodies and baddies here. You can argue: she should at least try! Or say: he is too self-absorbed!
In both cases you'd be right - but in everyday life this is what really happens on so many occasions. People will not fight because they've been feeling like this for a long time and at this point they just want their way out.
As you can probably guess by now I think psychologically this film is amazing, what bothers me is maybe too biased ending: her getting Tony nomination (I felt like it's there for pure female empowerment, when art isn't supposed to be gender's maid) and new boyfriend while the husband is moving to work in Los Angeles - I felt like maybe the film had more sympathy to her, but, okay. I guess that's Hollywood's toll on this film: that's what's keeping it too much on the Hollywood terms. I said this is an honest film: it's not melodramatic and romantic, it has many practical and everyday problems, thus, I felt it should've ended in the same manner. Also, it nods to the kafkaesque atmosphere of the courtrooms and legal battles as well as to the modern theatre life, which I think is very cool.
Overall, deserves a watch!