Kramer vs. Kramer

Kramer gegen Kramer
Joanna Kramer has long since stopped loving her husband, Ted, a vain egomaniac whose job in a large New York advertising agency is more important to him than anything else. He is barely even interested in their son, Billy. Finally Joanna can’t stand it anymore and moves out. Ted, who has just made a leap forward in his career, now has to not only manage the household but also take care of his son’s emotional needs. After some adjustment difficulties, father and son grow closer, and Ted discovers that he has more fun being with Billy than achieving success at work. The fact that he is no longer at the office day and night is not lost on his boss, however, and he gets fired. In the meantime, Joanna returns after a several month absence, announcing that she wants a divorce and custody of Billy. Ted hires a lawyer to help him fight for his son, and a bitter battle ensues in court...

Robert Benton’s moving 1979 divorce drama opened against the backdrop of social debates about gender roles and proposes an unconventional solution.



Print courtesy of Sony Pictures Entertainment, Culver City/CA
by Robert Benton
with Dustin Hoffman, Meryl Streep, Justin Henry
USA 1979 105’