Marriage Story AKA Divorce Story

Marriage Story should be called "Divorce Story" and it's a must watch. My husband fell asleep during it but he falls asleep during most movies we watch at home. In his defense I like to keep the room extra dark for viewing pleasure and we were super cozy on our famously comfortable couch. (At least five friends have the same sofa. Thank you to our BFF's ex for the initial Crate & Barrel find.) Anyway Justin doesn't come from a dysfunctional family so maybe the storyline didn't suck him in like it did me.

The movie tells the beautiful, heartbreaking story of a marriage falling apart, the young husband and wife navigating their uncoupling and custody of their young son. At one point during the movie - a movie in which I was reflexively empathizing with the 30-something, sparring husband and wife - I thought to myself, their kid is so young. I had so much sympathy for the little boy in that moment. The characters mentioned his age: seven. My body tingled. Tears started streaming down my face. (As oftentimes happens throughout many movies and even commercials; I'm a Highly Sensitive Person.) But this was different: I was seven-ish when my parents split and started a pretty harrowing divorce process. I saw myself in the Marriage Story kid: seven and seemingly so small, impressionable and sweet. I instantly gained a newfound perspective on my own experience. It was a wake up call to have more compassion for myself and the pain I endured as a child of divorce, that I carry with me still.

Beyond my own personal epiphany, the film was smart, well-done, funny and (clearly) touching. There's no perfect divorce, but Marriage Story wrapped beautifully and brought tears to my eyes once again at the end. No longer a little kid, I was able to comfort myself. And lean on my sleepy hubs too.

AES