Tramers
This emotional play is essentially a reimagining of the 1979 film “Kramer vs. Kramer” – but with two fathers going through a divorce in New York and battling for custody of their child instead of the Kramers.2
This movie follows the traditional relationship between a married couple. It can be compared to Dustin Hoffman and Meryl Streep’s movie, but it’s a little overdramatic and mainstream. However, the actors, especially Luke Evans and Billy Porter as the fathers, deliver outstanding performances. Christopher Woodley also shines as their eight-year-old son, Owen, providing charming support.
The screenplay, collaboratively written by Peter Nickowitz and director Bill Oliver, presents a detailed and subtly nuanced portrayal of contemporary gay lifestyles. This encompasses characters such as Nicky (played by Evans) and Gabriel (played by Porter), a married couple with children who adhere to monogamy until Gabriel strays from their agreement and becomes involved with another man. The film also follows the stories of older men who have never desired domestic attachments, as well as younger individuals who still engage in one-night stands and casual hook-ups within the gay community. Additionally, the movie features lesbian characters, including Pam (played by Robin Weigert), a family law attorney who offers valuable advice to Nicky.
Gabriel is uncertain about the reasons behind his loss of love for Nicky, but the change in emotions is irreversible. The focus now is to handle the breakup, divorce, and custody arrangements with minimal harm to their son Owen, who may appear fragile but is actually quite resilient. The movie briefly mentions Owen’s conception through egg donation and surrogacy, but makes it clear that both Nicky and Gabriel are legally recognized as his fathers, regardless of Nicky’s biological connection to Owen.
Occasionally, the movie may come across as instructional, almost like it was created to educate heterosexual friends and family about the complexities of same-sex marriage and divorce, similar to the open-minded relatives we are introduced to later in the story. However, the overall message of acceptance and understanding makes the slightly preachy parts easier to overlook. Each character is portrayed with depth, flaws, and charm, and while the soundtrack may be a bit saccharine, the film is still enjoyable and captivating.
Source: theguardian.com
