As with The Savages, Tamara Jenkins shows how good she is at presenting difficult situations in Private Life, tackling fertility problems with a middle age couple desperate to have a child. Though dosed with a measure of humor, often through awkward and unglamorous moments that smack of truth, the film is essentially a heart-wrencher. Kathryn Hahn is especially good as the wannabe mother, though Paul Giamatti (wannabe dad) and Kayli Carter (possible egg donor) are powerful presences as well. Jenkins sets the drama in the world of the New York writing scene and that feels authentic too. I think the statistics bear out that such intellectuals are far more likely to wait before trying, and that adds a layer of self-doubt and self-loathing to an already fraught situation. There's story-telling and then there's truth-telling, and Private Life feels like both. Its ending is damn near perfect. Jenkins only directs a feature every 10 years or so, and that's a crying shame.
Gosh, I'm startled. This is just painful, no matter what your socioeconomic status or desire to have children is. Just like all the other possible parents in the waiting room, I too am waiting. Desperate or hopeful, that's up to you.
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Siskoid
As with The Savages, Tamara Jenkins shows how good she is at presenting difficult situations in Private Life, tackling fertility problems with a middle age couple desperate to have a child. Though dosed with a measure of humor, often through awkward and unglamorous moments that smack of truth, the film is essentially a heart-wrencher. Kathryn Hahn is especially good as the wannabe mother, though Paul Giamatti (wannabe dad) and Kayli Carter (possible egg donor) are powerful presences as well. Jenkins sets the drama in the world of the New York writing scene and that feels authentic too. I think the statistics bear out that such intellectuals are far more likely to wait before trying, and that adds a layer of self-doubt and self-loathing to an already fraught situation. There's story-telling and then there's truth-telling, and Private Life feels like both. Its ending is damn near perfect. Jenkins only directs a feature every 10 years or so, and that's a crying shame.gabpinto
Great script. It's very influenced by the sad comedies of Alexander Payne and I loved that.satisfythecrave
Gosh, I'm startled. This is just painful, no matter what your socioeconomic status or desire to have children is. Just like all the other possible parents in the waiting room, I too am waiting. Desperate or hopeful, that's up to you.filmyjo
Very good drama.. Great dialogues and fantastic acting by Paul Giamatti and the girl who played Sadie... thumbs up!viccc
A tedious portrait of the insanity and inhumanity of surrogacy.