Director
Noah Baumbach
Leading Actors/Actresses
Scarlett Johansson and Adam Driver
Supporting Actors/Actresses
Ray Liotta, Laura Dern, Alan Alda, and Azhy Robertson
Genre
Drama
Language
English
Awards
At the 2020 Academy Awards, Laura Dern won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress.
Date of Release
The film was released on Netflix on December 6, 2019 and on November 6, 2019 in limited theaters.
Producer
Noah Baumbach
Setting and Context
New York, New York and Los Angeles, California
Narrator and Point of View
Marriage Story is told from the perspective of two separate people: Charlie and Nicole (both of whom act as narrators in parts of the film).
Tone and Mood
Intense, Contentious, Unkind, Sad, and Energetic.
Protagonist and Antagonist
There is no clear protagonist and antagonist structure in the film. Some viewers, however, see Charlie as the antagonist and Nicole as the protagonist, while others think Charlie is the protagonist and Nicole is the antagonist.
Major Conflict
The major conflict in the film revolves around Charlie and Nicole's divorce, and the legal proceedings resulting from it.
Climax
When Charlie and Nicole hug, reconcile, and decide to end their divorce amicably.
Foreshadowing
Charlie and Nicole's eventual reconciliation is foreshadowed by their experience in their experiences in therapy.
Understatement
The extent to which Charlie wants to work things out in his marriage with Nicole, notwithstanding his infidelity, is understated in the film.
Innovations in Filming or Lighting or Camera Techniques
Although the film is regarded as being well-filmed and well-lit, it is not innovative in its filming or lighting or camera techniques.
Allusions
To Baumbach's own life, previous marriage, and relationship, to popular culture (particularly popular films, television, and plays at the time of release), the geography of the United States, and religion (particularly Catholicism).
Paradox
Charlie is shocked by Nicole's lack of interest in reconciling things with him, despite his distance and his infidelity.
Parallelism
Charlie and Nicole's story often parallels the story of director Noah Baumbach's divorce from actress Jennifer Jason Leigh.
