The Golden Globe-nominated Marriage Story tells the story of a couple, Charlie and Nicole Barber, played by Rise of Skywalker’s Adam Driver and Avengers: Endgame’s Scarlett Johansson. The movie was met with critical acclaim due to its near-accurate portrayal of the end of marriage-the movie’s sleight of hand-and the impact it makes on the people involved. Driver and Johansson attempts to navigate through the humps, bumps and potholes of divorce, with their legal representatives (played by Laura Dern, Alan Alda and Ray Liotta) exchanging barbs laced with vindictive vitriol their still-friendly clients couldn’t (or wouldn’t) express to each other.
This is a contributed post and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Meet The Harris Family.
The Noah Baumbach-directed drama, filled with pockets of humor in such a trying time, is a relatable roller coaster that didn’t downplay nor romanticize the divorce process. When you find yourself in the same scenario, here are some things you can learn from the critically acclaimed film.
There’s always an amicable way.
Divorce isn’t always a legal battleground the way most films and TV shows portray it. While most lawyers attempt to discredit the opposition, there are always those who favor a more civil approach. In the movie, Charlie first approached Bert Spitz, played by Alda, who suggested to Charlie to be more considerate of Nicole’s wishes. Despite Charlie taking a more offensive style after, replacing Bert with the more aggressive divorce attorney Jay Marotta (Liotta), the movie ends with Charlie and Nicole amicably splitting. The film truthfully shows that with a bit of empathy and a lot of understanding, not all divorces end in scorched earth.
Sometimes, divorce isn’t just about you.
Some wives divorce their husbands because of domestic abuse. Others undergo the process because of their love for each other burning out. In Marriage Story, Nicole mainly wanted to split from Charlie because of her loss of individuality in the shadow of Charlie’s shining star, with her husband’s indiscretion somehow just an afterthought. Divorce isn’t just about just one person, however. When the issue of custody came, it’s when the fight truly began. At first, it may seem to be supposedly just about you, but when children are on the line, divorce can get messy.
It doesn’t hurt to get a good lawyer.
Nicole’s lawyer, Nora Fanshaw (played by Dern in a standout performance), knew how to get the best deal out of her divorce. The same goes with Charlie’s second representative, Marotta. Both of them knew that they can get their clients away with the best bargain through their aggressive approach. Sometimes, when push comes to shove, it doesn’t hurt to get the best legal team your money can afford so that you’ll end up with mostly just emotional cuts and bruises in the legal journey.
It can get emotionally toiling.
Despite how brutal their lawyers were, Nicole and Charlie remained friendly with each other until it reached a breaking point. It’s a trying time; even their son Henry has become bothered with the split. In one night away from their retainers, their supposedly amicable chat became a full-blown argument where Charlie punched a hole in the wall and had a breakdown. Divorce can leave anyone emotionally raw.
Divorce is an end and a new beginning.
At the end of the film, both Nicole and Charlie shared custody with Henry. They led very successful individual lives and remained friends after. Divorce may be a difficult time, filled with uncertainties, but once it reaches its end, a new beginning marks the lives of everyone. Successfully navigating through the trying times will lead everyone to fulfillment and success.
