Private Life

Funny, emotionally grounded, tragic, and optimistic; Private Life is the proverbial roller coaster of emotions that many movies promise but few deliver. Anchored by a strong script and propelled by captivating performances by Paul Giamatti and Kathryn Hahn, the movie tells the story of a couple, unable to conceive naturally, going through the torturous cycle of endless medical procedures, adoption meetings, and donor screenings. The chemistry between the two leads is effortless. Their relationship feels lived in. You can physically feel the toll the arduous ordeal has taken on each of them as individuals. They still love each other but sometimes become the unintended targets of their partner’s pent-up frustration and anger. Both the veteran performers in the lead not only bring their signature comic timing but also a tremendous dramatic heft to the picture. Especially brilliant is Kathryn Hahn who finally gets to step out of the perennial sidekick role and portray a complete range of emotions.

The script is incredibly well put together. All the characters feel like fully formed real people. Unlike a Noah Baumbach or Wes Anderson flick, there is no overarching style which each character must adhere to, instead, everyone has their own unique voice. The plot is also carefully crafted. There are little nuggets of information sprinkled throughout the script, which then come in to play at a later part.

The script is also a thematic juggling act. First, obviously, the movie is a detailed study of the everyday ups and downs of a relatively stable, middle age relationship that has been put under some stress. But more than that, there is also an eye-opening examination of the various stages of the female body. There are women, both young and old, who are dealing with fertility issues. There are women who are dealing with menopause. There are women who are dealing with, as the movie puts it, emotional incontinence due to hormonal imbalance. Finally, there are also themes of parental expectations, independence, medical ethics, and sexual intimacy spread throughout the movie.

The movie does run a little longer than it needs to and there were a few montages of New York (yes its a character itself) that could have been dispensed with. The music was a little twee at times. The dialogue is at places a little too self-referential and meta. But these are just minor nitpicks. It's a wonderful, deeply personal movie which is a must watch for every film fan.