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The snow falls for the seventh time in this unusual winter on the road that leads to my home. It's cold, I don't feel like going out to shovel, so I grab a duvet and lie on the couch. Damn, why are the tips of my feet always exposed? All bundled up, I take the DVD remote and press play. I recently watched "The Devil Wears Prada" on TV, and the subsequent desire to enjoy Meryl Streep from 30 years ago, in one of her most breathtaking performances, makes the image of a mother saying goodnight to her son immediately appear. It seems like a farewell, so sweet, sad, and moving...
"Kramer vs. Kramer" is a classic. You must have seen it at least once, and therefore I find it futile to perform a cold Wikipedia-like analysis explaining why it is an unquestionably must-watch film. Decades after its release, I find that it is increasingly relevant to our country's social situation. If, in fact, in the '70s-'80s divorce and issues related to child custody affected America more, such socio-family changes have strongly reached Catholic Italy, which is increasingly accustomed to separations and divorces. But no, it's not just that. In this profound film by Benton, a cold process regarding child custody is not described to us. That is a part (harsh and superb from an acting perspective), but not the most important since the crux lies in the repercussions (sentimental and psychological) that the destruction of an apparently consolidated family unit can create for the children and the parents (fathers, in particular, with the spotlight constantly on Dustin Hoffman). "Kramer vs. Kramer", amidst its tragic scenes where Bill's crying stands out (" I want MY mom. Why can't I have MY mom") and the explanation of the abandonment by the father, gives us moments of pure and vivid love.
In the tragedy of divorce and the depiction of the wounds it causes to children, the growing parental bond that goes beyond work, financial difficulties, time, and commitments is sweetly narrated. Paradoxically, Ted had to reach separation to really learn to love his son and truly enjoy his growth by sharing every situation with him; a simple breakfast, a rush to the hospital, a play, riding a bike, making him fall asleep by reading him a story. The message is: don't let it come to this. To resonate with the audience, Benton uses two wonderful actors, perhaps at the peak of their careers, and the performance they deliver is simply superlative up to the final tears.
If the film in the '80s was directed exclusively at us men, so "engaged" in our personal climb towards success in the work environment, now on the threshold of 2010, "Kramer vs. Kramer" can also be aimed at women. What matters is that children are the most important thing we have. We should never forget it and avoid trying to make amends when it's already too late.
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