Kramer vs. Kramer

98 Kramer vs. Kramer is simply perfect in every way imaginable. If I were to describe this film in one word, it would be "realistic". Indeed the main conflict plus incredible performances reflect the causes, the process and the aftermath of a divorce seemingly very accurately. I adored each little aspect of this film. From the impeccable acting to the profound storyline, this movie is 105 minutes of pure cinema. Kramer vs. Kramer literally makes the audience assume they are watching a documentary. Moreover, there is not a single useless scene or filler: the screenplay is thoroughly and masterfully written with realistic and outstanding dialogues. Kramer vs. Kramer just throws the viewers into the storyline without any explanation. The film starts with Joanna leaving Ted and the audience have no idea why. The viewers are kept in the dark until the very last court sequence where the reason for the divorce is revealed. I actually enjoyed this approach because otherwise the film would have turned into a mess in my personal opinion. Kramer vs. Kramer is not about a meaningless divorce story: the main idea is to show that a father can be just as well at being a parent as a mother which is the reason they have not disclosed all the details at the beginning. The acting is exceptional. Dustin Hoffman, Meryl Streep and Justin Henry are all great. I have seen a review for this film that says both main characters are not very likable, but nevertheless they manage to induce sympathy in the viewers. I wholeheartedly agree with this statement which consequently proves that the acting is truly great. Throughout the film the audience keeps assessing who is actually right or wrong. The trial itself acts less like a legitimate legal court, but more like a therapy session between the parents which is something the characters obviously had not done before. The character development is insane. How Ted went from literally dropping his son at school to thoroughly making sure that he is safe. This outer bond between the son and the father slowly building plus moments like the breakfast scene to show this stunning similarity between them. Great attention to detail in the movie. For example Joanna's mother's instinct when she is checking on her son at the cafe across the street. To sum up, Kramer vs. Kramer deserves all the praise and love it gets. I can confidently declare that this is now one of my favorite movies of all time. Like I said in the first paragraph, one of the main reasons this film is so great is realism. It shows all the different stages of a divorce: shock, anger, sadness, jealousy between the parents, custody, and a child's heartbreak.