Movie: Kramer VS Kramer Background of the movie Cast of the movie Plots of the movie Review and criticism Exercises

Background Kramer vs. Kramer is a 1979 film adapted by Robert Benton from the novel by Avery Corman, and directed by Benton. The film tells the story of a divorce and its impact on everyone involved, including the couple's young son. It received the Academy Award for Best Picture in 1979.

Cast Dustin Hoffman……… Ted Kramer Meryl Streep………… Joanna Kramer Justin Henry………… Billy Kramer Jane Alexander……… Margaret Phelps Howard Duff………… John Shaunessy George Coe………… Jim O'Connor JoBeth Williams……… Phyllis Bernard

Plots 1 Joanna Kramer, a Smith College graduate, is a stay-at-home mother for her son Billy. Feeling confined in this role, and neglected by her husband Ted, Joanna leaves the marriage in order "to find herself."

Plots 2 Ted, who has been focusing on his career in advertising, and was just given his agency's biggest new account, is shocked by Joanna's decision and is left to raise Billy by himself. With the help of his neighbor and Joanna's friend, Margaret, Ted comes to understand why Joanna left. In the process, he also becomes more invested in raising Billy than in his job (which he eventually loses).

Plots 3 About a year and a half after leaving, Joanna returns to New York in order to claim Billy, and a custody battle ensues. The courts side with the mother, but on the morning that Billy is to move in with Joanna, she comes to the apartment and tells Ted that, while she loves Billy and wants him with her, she knows that his true home is with Ted, and she chooses to let Billy stay with his father. The movie ends with the elevator doors closing on the emotional Joanna, as she heads upstairs to tell Billy that he'll be staying with Daddy.

Review Kramer vs. Kramer reflected a cultural shift which occurred during the 1970s and the period of second-wave feminism, when ideas about "motherhood" and "fatherhood" were changing. The film was widely praised for the way in which it gave equal weight and importance to both Joanna and Ted's points of view.

Exercises for Clip-1 1. Joanna left Ted NOT because . A. She didn’t love Billy any more. B. She couldn’t bear Ted any more. C. She felt unhappy with her life. D. She thought Ted didn’t make enough money. Key: D

Exercises for Clip-1 Keys: 2. A 3. B 2. Who was Margaret? A. She was Joanna’s girl friend. B. She was Billy’s baby-sitter. C. She was Ted’s sister. D. She was Joanna’s sister. 3. Margaret came to Ted’s house . A. to comfort Ted. B. because she was concerned with Joanna C. to see what she could do to help Ted D. to take care of Billy

Exercises for Clip-1 4. What time was it when Billy woke his father up? A. 05:45 B. 06:35 C. 07:45 D. 09:35 5. Which one of the following things did Ted NOT do that morning? (D) A. He made French toast for Billy and himself. B. He explained Billy why his mother was not at home. C. He took a shower, shave and shampoo. D. He beat Billy because the toast was burned. Keys: 4. C 5. D

Exercises for Clip-2 8 3 5 1 4 7 6 2 1. Ted explained to Billy why his mother had left them when Billy thought it was because of his being bad. 2. Billy didn’t like steak for dinner and went to the fridge for the chocolate chip ice cream. 3. Billy was thrown into bed and cried falling into sleep. 4. Ted was 15 minutes late for the office and his assistant told him that Mr. O’Connor was angry with him. 5. Ted got furious because Billy didn’t listen to him during the dinner time. 6. Ted and Billy apologized to each other. 7. Ted regretted for what had happened at night and drank some wine to calm down. 8. Margaret told Ted that she still thought about her husband who divorced her a year and half ago in the park.