Movie Review of "Kramer vs. Kramer"

I would like to introduce Kramer vs. Kramer. Kramer vs. Kramer is an American movie released in 1979. Kramer vs. Kramer means Husband Kramer vs. Wife Kramer. This is, the story of a custody battle. The movie was directed by Robert Benton. and the main characters are husband Ted Kramer played by Dustin Hoffman, wife Joanna Kramer played by Meryl Streep and son of Billy Kramer played by Justin Henry. This movie grossed over $173 million at the box office, It was nominated for the top nine categories at the 52nd Academy Awards and won in five categories.

          

           

                                                                      

The story is set in 1970s New York. Ted was a hardworking husband, but he left all the housework and childcare to Joanna. Joanna got fed up with this life and left home alone. Ted and Billy were at a loss. Things didn't work out at first, but as Ted started to get along with Billy's feelings, they gradually created a good parent-child relationship. One day, over a year later, Joanna asked for custody of Billy. However, Ted wouldn't give up parental rights to her. And Ted and Joanna filed a custody case. This custody contention has a surprise ending.

In the 1960s and 1970s, when this movie was released, the United States had a women's liberation movement called Women's Liberation. This is a movement to seek equal rights with men and eliminate discrimination and inequality against women. Divorce or not marrying may be a symbol of an independent woman who has achieved social advancement. Joanna feels the same. She lived in a middle-class family without feeling any inconvenience, but she wasn't happy. She chose to live freely without being tied down by her husband and left home alone.

This movie is a very thought-provoking story. Divorce and child custody trials may be commonplace today, However, it was a social problem at the time. But I think the victims are always children. Children often don't want a divorce. In the movie Billy said, “Are you going away？” “That’s why Mommy left, isn’t it? Because I was bad?” You can see that he is hurt from the heartbreaking scene where Billy asks his father Ted. In marriage, I think it is important to share housework and childcare, help each other, and respect each other. The movie does have a custody battle scene, but it's not scary. The content is also very easy to understand. Above all, mischievous Billy is very cute. It is a very good work, so please take a look.

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