Movie Plot: Marriage Story
“It’s not as simple as not being in love any more.”
The movie stars Scarlett Johansson and Adam Driver in the lead — that’s a good reason to assume the movie is going to keep you engaged. And the assumption won’t be wrong. Directed and produced by Noah Baumbach and released on Netflix, the movie has received tremendous critical acclaim.
The movie takes us through the story of Nicole, an actress, and Charlie, a theatre director, as they go through a divorce. The marriage sees a strain when Nicole realises that she is just a wife in Charlie’s life, and not an individual person. After the first signs of differences, the two seek the help of therapists. However, despite initial promises that they won’t go through a lawyer, Nicole finds herself seeking the help of Nora, a bad-ass lawyer in Los Angeles. Nicole takes Charlie by surprise when she asks him for a divorce. Charlie is forced to consult lawyers too. As the story progresses, we find Charlie losing this case as shuffling between New York and LA brings complications. It doesn’t help when Henry, whose custody Charlie and Nicole are fighting for, shows a preference for his mom.
Marriage Story takes us through the heartbreaking story of a couple who is in love going through breaking up of their marriage step by step. The story is about Nicole, who risks a successful career for love, but steps out of the marriage when she realises she’s not getting what she deserves. The story is also about Charlie, who loves his wife and his son, works hard at his job, and is devastated on being served divorce papers. It’s not hard to guess who wins the case, but the movie must be watched to experience the emotions that the two characters go through.
What comes to me as the most impressive thing about the movie is Adam Driver’s acting. The scene in which he reads out the letter by Nicole and stops himself from crying — well, the viewers are shedding tears during that scene.
