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What does A Marriage Story get right about divorce?

What does A Marriage Story get right about divorce?

  • Divorce Movie

Even if you haven’t seen A Marriage Story, you may have heard about it. Especially if you’re thinking about getting a divorce. And you may have wondered about the film’s portrayal of divorce and divorce attorneys.

For example, you might wonder: Are divorce attorneys really such “bad guys” as the movie makes them out to be? Not quite. The film gets many things right, but not everything. And there’s more to the story of its characters’ divorce than you see on the screen.

A brief summary

Spoiler alert: If you haven’t seen A Marriage Story, you’re about to get a brief overview. The movie follows the divorce of Charlie and Nicole, played by Adam Driver and Scarlett Johansson. They start in mediation, telling each other they want a quiet, peaceful divorce, but the mediation fails. Nicole walks out and hires an attorney.

From that point, the divorce process becomes increasingly contentious. The big sticking point for both Charlie and Nicole is custody of their son. Nicole has moved to Hollywood and wants her son to live with her there. Charlie wants his son to stay with him in New York. The couple’s hopes for a quiet, peaceful divorce explode as their attorneys wage their custody battle.

Four ways A Marriage Story gets things right

As the film’s writer and director noted in a radio interview, Charlie and Nicole start in a place of relative innocence. They don’t understand the divorce process and hope they can find a peaceful way through it. But they learn:

  • Divorce is almost always more complicated than people expect, especially when child custody is involved.
  • Mediation doesn’t always work, especially when one side, like Nicole, feels she doesn’t have a voice in the relationship.
  • Divorce isn’t just legally complex. It’s also emotionally complex, and couples can expect to go through a wide range of conflicting emotions.
  • Custody is about the child’s best interests. You may not have a custody evaluator visit you like the evaluator visited Charlie, but you can expect the court to apply certain standards to its evaluation.

Charlie and Nicole share so much pain during their divorce that you might think the lesson was that they should have stuck with mediation. But that’s not necessarily the case.

Three ways A Marriage Story reveals the value of a good attorney

By the end of A Marriage Story, the couple is divorced, and it seems they’ve found a way to move forward. Charlie has moved to L.A., and the couple have put their conflicts aside to co-parent their son more effectively. But this wouldn’t have been the outcome if the couple had stuck with mediation. Nicole needed an attorney:

  • To listen to her concerns and give them a voice. Nicole felt silenced in her marriage and didn’t believe Charlie was ready to negotiate with her as an equal.
  • To help her understand her rights and the legal concerns of her divorce. When she files for divorce, Nicole only knows her marriage isn’t working. She doesn’t fully understand her path forward.
  • To argue her case. The reason Nicole needs a powerful attorney in the film is because Charlie simply won’t agree to let their son live with her. Nicole’s attorney helps prove the move is in her son’s best interest.

When you watch the film the first time, it may feel like it’s all about the pain of divorce and the attorneys’ aggressive tactics. But that’s only one take. It’s also the story of how Nicole pursues a better future for her and her son. And as the real-life attorney on whom Nicole’s lawyer was likely based has pointed out, the depictions of the attorneys were fictionalized and missed the mark in several important ways.

Get the whole picture

A Marriage Story earned high praise for its portrayal of the human issues involved in divorce. In that way, you may find it helpful. Especially because it shows the hope at the end of the process. It’s not always easy, but a dedicated attorney may help you push through the process and find your way toward a better future.

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“[They] represented me in a very difficult divorce and stood by me through numerous conflicts with my ex-wife after the agreement was final. Annette assisted me in every step of the case preparation, provided outstanding council regarding the financial settlement, anticipated difficult questions from the court and opposing counsel, presented my case professionally and persuasively, and when things got tough this woman became a velvet hammer! Annette maintained her professional edge at all times as she politely, yet forcefully pummeled the opposing counsel’s arguments. It’s clear that she has earned the respect of Judges. This respect and her credibility benefited me and my position during difficult litigation and in the decisions made by the Judge. Over the years since my divorce was final, Annette has promptly responded to my post judgment requests for support and frankly, she has never failed me. Great advice, great guidance and great support. When you’re in front of a Judge in these very trying important moments, you realize how critical it is to have the right representation. Annette and the office staff worked together, with me, to successfully fight the most important battle of my life. Hiring Annette Benson Law was one of my very best decisions.”
R.E.
“I worked with Annette on my custody case. She helped me understand the court process and guided me through it as an active participant. She helped me to help myself and as a team, I felt empowered for the first time in a long time. She took the time to educate me on all of my options, explaining different scenarios that were possible along the way. Her relentless commitment and constant attention paid off in the end. My children are doing well and my relationship with my ex-husband is now functional. I no longer feel like the victim and therefore, I am able to be the parent I need to be. I feel like Annette genuinely cares about me and my children and helped me both inside and outside the courtroom”.
R.T.
“Pit bulls in skirts they are! I highly recommend Alicia and Annette for custody cases. Detailed, understanding and always available when you have a question or concern. Even Colleen, their legal secretary, is always available to address questions or concerns. Each step of the way and every process is explained. Alicia Meeker was primary counsel on my case and she took the time to know me and my case and truly fought for me! These ladies are the best! Genuine, kind and compassionate, while fearless and prepared to battle. Pit bulls in skirts says it all.”
O.T.
“My divorce was uglier than I ever anticipated. My ex-husband pretended to be cooperative and kind in front of the Judge, but at home, he was nasty and manipulative and I was petrified! I trusted Annette would be my best advocate in the courtroom, as her reputation speaks for itself. What I didn’t expect was her total understanding of the bs I was dealing with at home. It was like she knew my husband, and anticipated his every move! She gave me advice on how to act, what to say and not say and sure enough, I gained control over the game playing and was able to shut it down. Annette’s help was more than securing my finances, she helped me find the confidence to believe in myself and move forward with direction rather than in fear. I am grateful for her insight, compassion, and direct approach – without it, I think I’d still be hiding in my own skin”.
L.G.
“Annette reminds me of the Tasmanian Devil! She’s small, always in motion and managed so many aspects of my case at one time! It was difficult at times to keep up with her, but I soon realized that there’s always a method and strategy that gets the results. Annette is one tough cookie and that’s exactly what I needed”.
M.K.
“I consulted with a few attorneys about seeking custody of my two girls. Neither attorney I met with sounded optimistic but were of course willing to take my money and try. When I met with Annette, I was surprised at the direction our conversation went – she asked me questions no other attorney had asked before. She looked at the big picture and came up with a strategy that worked! I’m thankful to have my girls with me full time and I’m grateful for Annette’s creative thinking, courtroom control and ultimate success”.
D.O.
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The information on this website is for general information purposes only. Nothing on this site should be taken as legal advice for any individual case or situation. This information is not intended to create, and receipt or viewing does not constitute, an attorney-client relationship.