MovieChat Forums > Kramer vs. Kramer (1979) Discussion > The mother, at the end (spoilers?)

The mother, at the end (spoilers?)

posted 7 years ago by Becca659
13 replies | jump to latest

I dunno if they're called spoilers when it's like 35 plus years later (lol). And I dunno if it's really a spoiler, maybe more just a heads-up type thing...

But, couldn't the mother be like "you take costudy of [child] & I'll come take him out to lunch once a week/month" or something?? So she could still be able to see him, spend time with him, etc & not be totally out of his life forever? And if something like this may have occurred, they should've at least mentioned it. At the end, it sounded more like she was just sort of like giving up (for good reason) and aside from that time in the apartment was never going to see him again... IMO.

[–] rascal67 7 years ago

For a spoiled narcissist like Joanna Kramer though, it was about getting the things she wanted, not compromise. I think she still resented Ted for whatever self-absorbed reasons she had. Ted coped with raising a son solo and was still working. Joanna couldn't cope with just being a stay at home mother and when the crunch came to having Billy back in her life again, she had second thoughts. It would have been an impingement on her new found freedom. For her, it was about winning and even destroying Ted, even if she wasn't aware of what she was doing. She was lucky Ted was understanding and didn't throttle her at the end, after all the financial and emotional turmoil she put him and Billy through. She wasn't made of the same strength and mettle that Ted was.

Don't eat the whole ones! Those are for the guests. 🍪

[–] LukeLovesFilm28 7 years ago

It's the worst kind of entitlement. She walks out, not only breaks Ted's heart but also Billy's heart and expects to come back, and take everything away as if it's her right.

Get off your soapbox while I play you a tune on the tiniest violin.

[–] rascal67 7 years ago

...and take everything away as if it's her right.
_________________
Isn't that many females in a nutshell regarding males?

Don't eat the whole ones! Those are for the guests. 🍪

[–] lukemm-90850 7 years ago

I'm watching Kramer vs Kramer again now, and now in hindsight, after hearing Meryl's BS at the Globes, I can't help but get pissed at the audacity Joanna has to say that she wants her son back, talking to Ted like he's kidnapped Billy or something. How fcking dare she!

[–] rascal67 7 years ago

... I can't help but get pissed at the audacity Joanna has to say that she wants her son back, talking to Ted like he's kidnapped Billy or something. How fcking dare she!
_______________

Joanna Kramer was an absolute k<>t of a woman and I have rated her on my top movie villains list. Like I have mentioned before, for Joanna, it was all about what she could obtain and win, and about coming out on top, even if she didn't really want the prize.

Don't eat the whole ones! Those are for the guests. 🍪

[–] Bubbathegut (17215) 7 years ago

i like kramer on seifeld

[–] Green-Eyed-Girl31 7 years ago

I always just figured that after this initial meeting with her son that Ted was generous enough to allow her, they eventually sat down and discussed some visitation aspects for her with Billy.

"You met me at a very strange time in my life"

[–] lukemm-90850 7 years ago

I got the feeling that Ted was far more rational and considerate than Joanna.

[–] Green-Eyed-Girl31 7 years ago

I got the feeling that Ted was far more rational and considerate than Joanna.

I agree that in the long run, Ted had grown far more than Joanna.

"You met me at a very strange time in my life"

[–] Goodbye_from_Fox_In_A_Box 7 years ago

Just watched it again. I have the impression that whatever custody/visitation the 2 had would be reversed. She wasn't giving up on Billy, she, for whatever reasons, be it selfishness (most likely) or selflessness, doesn't want to rip Billy from his home. She still has a bedroom read for him, for when he stays over.

I doubt Ted would just rip her from their son's life. He truly cares for what's best for Billy. And that would include Billy's mother.

I don't want the world. I just want your half.

[–] rascal67 7 years ago

That is all well and said, but Joanna DID NOT CARE THAT MUCH. She was out to take care of herself and being married to Ted and having Billy, were burdensome appendages for her. She was a narcissist. I find it very difficult to give this character much leeway. She was spoiled and selfish and weak. She only gave Billy back because she didn't really want the prize that she walked out on, she just wanted to win and see if she could get her way. If she didn't want to rip Billy from his home, then why did she rip herself away from him in the first place? Oh yeah, that's right, to find herself. Yes, nice vile woman: I will be your mommy of the heart, when she wrote him a letter. What does that even mean?

Don't eat the whole ones!...Those are for the guests. 🍪

[–] InherentlyYours 7 years ago

She wasn't giving up on Billy, she, for whatever reasons, be it selfishness (most likely) or selflessness, doesn't want to rip Billy from his home. She still has a bedroom read for him, for when he stays over.

Or she didn't want the burden of having the poor kid around because it cramped her style, so she pretends the boy's place is with his father, so she can look in his eyes and her own. And the convenient bedroom/Playroom when he would stay would enable her valued privacy.

[–] SlackerInc (1064) 2 years ago

1. I assume they must've decided on some kind of visitation.

2. You can always risk spoiling any movie regardless of when it came out. I always find it bizarre when people act like you can't, just because a movie came out decades ago. Like that means people born after the movie was released come out of the womb having already seen it?

3. I don't think people should worry about spoilers for a movie if they are posting on the board for that movie. People should expect spoilers there. But if you mention something about the plot of another movie, then you should be more careful.