How did Cramer, Cramer, Meryl Streep, and Justin Henry create such a memorable performance in "Kramer, Kramer"?

Meryl Streep was in deep grief at the time.

Another person who should not be forgotten is Meryl Streep. She is also known as an outstanding actor, but she has a different methodology from Dustin Hoffman in that she The Natural grasps the role and enters the body of the character.

It is worth noting the time when this film was made. In 1978, she lost her lover John Cazale ( The Godfather (1972), Dog Day Afternoon Afternoon (1975), The Deer Hunter (1978), etc.). Despite the great sense of loss at the time, she continued to dedicate herself to a number of projects as if to motivate herself, and this film must have been a state she could not have reached unless she poured all her energy into it as an actor and as a woman.

In particular, the scene in the courtroom where she pours out her heartfelt words left a deep impression on the audience. Her facial expressions, gaze, and tears running down her cheeks all seemed to express her own way of life, not just her acting.

There are many other scenes, such as the confrontation scene at the restaurant where they confront each other about their feelings, where Dustin Hoffman deliberately improvises to draw out natural reactions from Streep. The exchange between the two is truly thrilling no matter how many times you watch it. It makes you sigh at how profound acting can be.

In this way, this film is imprinted with the struggles of the actors who faced the task of "acting" seriously. It goes beyond the realm of fiction, so to speak, and gives the impression of forming a strong trunk by consolidating even their real lives. And yet, it never becomes too heavy, and the story moves forward skillfully, sprinkled with laughs, warmth, and moments that shine like jewels. In this respect, the direction of director Robert Benton, who skillfully picked up on the feelings of the actors and staff and turned it into an exquisite piece of work, is also truly wonderful.

“Kramer, Kramer” (c)1979 COLUMBIA PICTURES INDUSTRIES, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Forty years have passed since the birth of this movie, but even as times and social conditions change, the way of love shown in "Cramer, Cramer" remains timeless and continues to deeply move us. Its presence will probably not change in the future. I think this kind of work is truly rare.

Text: USHIZU ATSUNOBU

Born in Nagasaki in 1977. When he was 3 years old, he saw ``Superman II'' with his father and became fascinated with movies. After The Graduate from Meiji University, he worked for a movie broadcasting channel and then became a movie writer. Currently, in addition to writing for Eiga.com, EYESCREAM, Real Sound Movie Club, etc., he also contributes to media press and theater programs.

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"Cramer, Cramer"

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(c)1979 COLUMBIA PICTURES INDUSTRIES, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.