As a child of separated parents, I can attest that when you’re younger it’s hard to see both sides of the argument. Hell, it’s hard seeing any side that isn’t yours—the confusion and the pain that come with this transition are stronger than anything you’ve felt so far. It’s easy, then, to blame one parent for the fallout over the other. But as you mature, it becomes easier to view divorce with more sympathy for both parties. This seems to be the case for Noah Baumbach. In 2005, he made The Squid and the Whale, a film about his parent’s divorce told almost exclusively from the perspective of the children. Now, 14 years later, he’s made Marriage Story, a film about divorce from the perspectives of all sides involved.
Because of my personal experience, I almost wish Baumbach had made it easy for me to choose a side. But the film works because it makes you see the good and bad in both parents. By the end, you’re rooting for both Charlie and Nicole, hoping they find their own happiness despite all the bad things and the pain they caused one another. v
Directed by Noah Baumbach. R, 136 min. Now playing at Music Box Theatre and Landmark’s Renaissance Place Cinema; streaming on Netflix on 12/6
