A beautiful and honest portrayal of divorce and love

Rating: 8/10 (14 December 2019)

Review: Marriage Story (2019)
Marriage Story is a heartfelt and unique portrayal of modern day divorce, encompassing all aspects of a gruelling and often one-sided experience. Noah Baumbach succeeds once again in achieving beauty in every aspect of his film, from its stunning Los Angeles setting to its impressive cast. Adam Driver plays Charlie, a highly successful stage director hoping to move back to New York, while Scarlett Johansson plays his wife, Nicole, an actress whose career grew as a result of her husband's fame, but who realises that her marriage has stripped her of independent identity. The couple struggles between their undying love for each other and their increasingly different life goals, which would lead them to opposite sides of the country, making spilt custody of their eight-year-old son impossible. Marriage Story is filled with highly emotional scenes, in particular a heated argument between Nicole and Charlie, during which they both say the most hurtful things possible to each other before breaking down in tears of guilt. Also moving is Adam Driver's singing scene, as his suffering is clear is clear in every note and facial expression. The film's soundtrack has been nominated for Best Original Score at the Golden Globes, and although not too impressive on its own, it fits the cinematography perfectly, especially in the beautifully timed opening sequence. What I like most about this film is that it presents a more uncommon type of divorce, where it is not a lack of love but a lack of compatibility in lifestyle that tears the two apart, making the process all the more painful and uncomfortable to watch. While it's doubtful that Marriage Story will come out on top at the Golden Globes or Oscars, it is certainly an important film that will stick in many viewers' minds for its beauty and complex portrayal of divorce and love.