Honesty, at last.

Rating: 9/10 (12 December 2019)

Heartbreaking performances that both deserve Oscars are not the most incredible aspect of this film.
It's honesty is, and realism and not taking sides in the war of the sexes, which is sadly all too prevalent today in the subdivisional world the internet has generated. Presenting the complex issues of modern day relationships and breakdowns and legal ramifications is so refreshing. Having lived through this situation twice, once as a stepparent and then a parent, this story was so distressing to sit through. It's the age related dilemma of our sad times.
The absent father is a 30 to 40 year old myth, as is the notion that women are held to a higher account. If anything, today one of the sexes are able to get away with literally anything and any differantation being brought into question is seen as sexism. At least in the media and popular entertainment world. The law sees it differently.
Child neglect and abuse is committed by both parents equally which can be verified in the data, depending where you look. Even then its pretty close to equal. Not what the haters want you to believe.
The real perpetrators here is the system, which seeks a win for clients over the needs of children and emotional and financial wellbeing of parents. It's responsible for literally driving people past the edge. Choose any Western nation and you will find pretty much the same story. Divisiveness kills. Children are all too often put second, but as is depicted very intelligently by its writer, sometimes there is no clear solution.
To have this film released in 2019 is astounding and couldn't be more needed. This is the messy reality of life. Not the Shangri La fantasy that self interested groups aspire to create. More understanding and unity and less demonization. We must learn to give a little, if not a lot, and learn to get along. This is the most important film for many years.
Rodney King's cry for peace echoes on.