Kramer vs. Kramer Essay Example

not leave without their son since everything was finally working out. While Ted may have neglected Joanna's needs in some ways, it's possible that her problems are mostly internal.

Even though she is intelligent and talented, she has been a stay-at-home mom to their son Billy (Justin Henry) for six years and hasn't utilized her more profitable skills. During the late 1970s, it was fashionable to focus on personal exploration, which is something she needs to do. Ted experiences anger and denial as he grieves but eventually comes to terms with his loss. Despite being unfamiliar with his wife's daily responsibilities of making breakfast and taking Billy to school, Billy guides him.

Throughout the film, Billy is heartbroken by his mother's rejection while simultaneously growing closer to his father. Despite Ted's declining work situation, a new obstacle arises when Joanna returns and demands custody of Billy. Although not his preferred outcome, Ted is determined to keep his son and goes through the necessary steps to prove himself as a suitable father.

During the trial, Ted and Joanna both try to portray the other as an irresponsible and incompetent parent. Ted's lawyer represents Joanna as a selfish child who is unable to take care of herself, let alone their son Billy. Meanwhile, Joanna's lawyer depicts Ted as an incompetent father who cannot even hold down a stable job. By this point in the movie, the audience has become emotionally invested in Ted and Billy's challenging but enlightening journey, and they are hoping against hope that the two will be allowed to remain together.

As expected, the judge awards custody to the mother despite Ted's efforts to reverse the decision. Ted's

attempts come to an end upon discovering that Billy would have to testify. Just when all seems lost, Joanna recognizes she cannot take her son away from his home and from his father, who holds great significance in his life. While some may view Robert Benton's approach as formulaic, his actors excel at portraying characters perfectly tailored to their own personalities. Notably, Jane Alexander and JoBeth Williams deliver exceptional performances as part of the stellar supporting cast.

First and foremost, I want to acknowledge Dustin Hoffman’s exceptional acting in portraying a more typical man with relatable qualities, which is different from his usual unconventional roles. Nowadays, movies tend to have child characters that are portrayed unrealistically as mini-Einsteins with clever comebacks and witty one-liners, entertaining but not representative of most children.

Due to our encounters with troublesome young people, we often hold biased opinions about child performers. However, the film Kramer vs. Kramer challenges this stereotype. The character of Billy fulfills the role of a cute child, but he does not merely come across as a typical six-year old. Justin Henry fully understands his role and delivers an authentic performance.

Robert Benton, the director who transformed Avery Corman's novel into a screenplay, delivers a concise and marvelous retelling of the story. Despite lasting for one hour and forty-five minutes, the film manages to cover almost two years. Benton employs impressive scenes, including Ted and Billy’s morning routine of waking up, eating breakfast, and reading the newspaper, to depict every aspect of their laid-back and contented relationship in less than two minutes. Another brief scene that displays Ted’s newfound devotion and care for Billy while also indicating

a significant time gap since Joanna's departure is Ted's attendance at Billy's Halloween school play. This all takes place in Kramer vs.

Kramer is a dominating and captivating motion picture which evokes a feeling of awe. The trio of Dustin Hoffman, Meryl Streep, and Justin Henry is an extraordinary combination. Justin Henry delivers one of the most genuine, heartwarming and authentic performances as a child actor. Although her role is small, Streep's portrayal with a heart-wrenching despair leaves an indelible impression on the audience. Hoffman undeniably shines as the protagonist of the film and maximizes his potential in his performance.

Kramer vs. Kramer is a film that delivers genius performances, smooth direction, and an inspiring story line. The evolution of the main character is brilliantly portrayed by Hoffman, making it believable, passionate, true, and relatable.