Kramer vs. Kramer (film)
"Kramer vs. Kramer" is a 1979 drama film that explores the complexities of marriage, parenting, and divorce through the story of Ted and Joanna Kramer. Starring Dustin Hoffman as Ted and Meryl Streep as Joanna, the narrative begins with Joanna's departure from her husband and their seven-year-old son, Billy. This departure forces Ted to take on both parental roles, leading to a deepening bond with Billy amid the challenges of single parenthood. As Ted struggles to balance his job and newfound responsibilities, Joanna returns after gaining confidence and seeking custody of Billy, sparking a contentious courtroom battle. The film presents a balanced portrayal of both parents, depicting their strengths and weaknesses, while resonating with audiences familiar with the emotional turmoil of divorce. Despite its acclaim and commercial success, some critics noted a perceived bias in favor of Ted's character over Joanna's. "Kramer vs. Kramer" received nine Academy Award nominations, winning five, including Best Picture, and is recognized for its realistic depiction of family dynamics in contemporary society.
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Subject Terms
Kramer vs. Kramer (film)
Identification Motion picture
Kramer vs. Kramer showed the effects of divorce with greater depth, sensitivity, and honesty than had been depicted previously on film.
Date Released in 1979
Director Robert Benton
Key Figures
Robert Benton (1932- ), film director
In Kramer vs. Kramer, Joanna Kramer (played by Meryl Streep) is a frustrated woman, unhappy in her marriage and insecure in her parenting skills. She leaves her husband, Ted (Dustin Hoffman), a New York City advertising executive, and seven-year-old son, Billy (Justin Henry), in order to regain her sense of self. Her departure creates difficulties for Billy and Ted: Billy blames himself for his mother’s desertion, while Ted has to act both as father and as mother to his son, forcing him to devote less time to his job. The two eventually develop a close relationship and a better understanding of Joanna’s departure.
Their newfound happiness is short-lived. Joanna, who has spent time in California undergoing therapy, returns to New York. She has found a job and regained her self-esteem. She wants to take Billy back, but Ted vows to fight for custody. To complicate matters further, Ted is fired from his job because his boss is displeased with his decreased productivity. Ted needs employment in order to gain custody of Billy, so he takes a new job at a lower salary, earning less money than Joanna. Subsequently, Ted and Joanna become embroiled in an ugly court battle for custody. The judge rules in Joanna’s favor, but she realizes that Billy is happy with Ted and allows Ted to keep the boy.
Kramer vs. Kramer recounted these events with intelligence, perception, and wit, taking pains to develop a balanced portrait of both parents and showing each with flaws as well as virtues. Its story and characters resonated with viewers who had experienced the pain of divorce and child-custody disputes. The film earned high praise from film critics and was a box-office success.
However, the film fared less well with some feminists, who maintained that Ted was portrayed more sympathetically than was Joanna. Ted, they argued, stays home and sacrifices his job in order to care for his son, while Joanna selfishly abandons her child to pursue her own interests.
Kramer vs. Kramer was nominated for nine Academy Awards and received five Oscars at the ceremony held April 14, 1980. The film captured Best Picture honors, and Robert Benton received one award for his direction and another for his screenplay. Hoffman won his first award for Best Actor; Streep was named Best Supporting Actress.
Impact
Kramer vs. Kramer offered filmgoers a realistic and nuanced view of a family confronting divorce and child-custody battles. Its success showed that there was a market for character-driven films and for films depicting the problems shared by contemporary audiences.
Bibliography
McCreadie, Marsha. The Casting Couch and Other Front Row Seats: Women in Films of the 1970’s and 1980’s. Westport, Conn.: Greenwood Press, 1990.
Magill, Frank Northen, Patricia King Hanson, and Stephen L. Hanson, eds. Magill’s Survey of Cinema: English Language Films, First Series. 4 vols. Englewood Cliffs, N.J.: Salem Press, 1980.
Osborne, Robert. Seventy-five Years of the Oscar: The Official History of the Academy Awards. New York: Abbeville Press, 2003.