MovieChat Forums > Kramer vs. Kramer (1979) Discussion > Joanna was a terrible mother

Joanna was a terrible mother

posted 9 years ago by sth78
10 replies | jump to latest

First she leaves her child behind, then comes back and wants to have him back, and in the process makes her ex-husband lose $15,000 on the trial (which is more than half his annual salary), just to leave him behind again.

I was so happy to see that Ted got to keep his son (we get the impression that he does), yet so saddened that the New York Justice System would ever grant a mother like that full custody. She should get what Ted got, every other weekend and one night a week with him. That's what she would get in a fair trail.

[–] jayhn1111 9 years ago

I disagree. Every other weekend is all she deserves. Not the one night a week thing.

[–] ValerinAmberz 8 years ago

Actually they both were stupid. They both could've spent their court expenses on their kid instead and simply asked him what he wanted to do, in a civilized grown up way without putting any pressure on him.

With the money saved he or she could easily fly to see him regularly.

Ed Powers = Woody Allen

[–] LukeLovesFilm28 8 years ago

They were following convention. And unfortunately, convention dictates that the mother is going to get all the benefits while the father takes it up the ass. Of course Joanna won't shy away from getting those conventional benefits.

As much as I hate what Joanna does to her family, I think Sally Field is far worse in Mrs. Doubtfire.

[–] puirt-a-beul 8 years ago

Easy to say what's civilized when we're not the ones embroiled in the emotion and self-image.

Joanna was incredibly cruel and selfish, in my book. No other way to cut it.

You might very well think that. I couldn't possibly comment.

[–] LukeLovesFilm28 8 years ago

The fact that she took off, leaving Billy behind and taking an additional 2000 dollars that Ted could've used to feed and clothe Billy is really sh!tty.

[–] rascal67 7 years ago

Joanna was incredibly cruel and selfish, in my book. No other way to cut it.
_______________________

Streep wanted changes made to her character, to make her more sympathetic:

Meryl Streep requested changes to her character, as she felt that the story was relying on the audience to understand why Joanna left without letting Joanna express it for herself. It was her belief that the character as written, in both the screenplay and the book, was too one-dimensional, an obvious villain for Ted and Billy to react to and change their lives accordingly.

It doesn't change the fact that she is still seen as a spoiled, selfish, self-entitled and narcissistic creature in the film. I'd say, Streep would've been focusing on the newfound independence her character needed to obtain empowerment as a woman in a wicked male dominated world that was stifling Joanna.

Joanna only wanted to prove she could win and get what she wanted and continue to punish Ted for whatever grievances and resentments this cold and conceited creature harboured towards him. Someone like Joanna, would have blamed Ted for stealing part of her life away from her, instead of taking responsibility for her own actions. She would have been used to getting her own way when growing up. Having Billy back wasn't something she would have been able to cope with, what with her fresh liberties she allowed herself at the expense of her ex and her son. She couldn't even cope as a housemother and raising a child she didn't want. The fact that Billy was male, would have been seen as another obstacle. If she had a daughter, I doubt she would have left, or taken her with her.

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

[–] LukeLovesFilm28 7 years ago

LOL. So a female that does this to her son and partner deserves some understanding and sympathy... but a male character must be shown for the devil that he is?? CUTE.

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

[–] rascal67 7 years ago

Of course Luke. Men owe women their life and Streep needed for viewers to understand how oppressive and dominating males are concerning the way they treat women. Joanna Kramer "deserves" the free passes society affords her, just by virtue of her very "special" gender. It doesn't matter how narcissistic and self-serving she is. How dare Ted and Billy steal a good chunk of her life, when she could have been out in the real world attempting to grow her own balls.

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

[–] LukeLovesFilm28 7 years ago

How dare Ted and Billy steal a good chunk of her life, when she could have been out in the real world attempting to grow her own balls.

HA! That's actually quite fitting.

And they deserve it because everything is two times harder for them... right? lol

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

[–] rascal67 7 years ago

And they deserve it because everything is two times harder for them... right?
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Don't you mean twice as easy, since men do pretty much everything for them to ensure they have a comfortable, spoiled, primped and pampered life. Nice that males—just by viture of being born male—just have to suck it up and allow for "special" privileged childish females to have more equalities, because generally, they don't tend to complain as much about what they don't have, or what is owed them.

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