Watch A Married Couple

A Married Couple is a 1969 documentary film directed by Canadian filmmaker Allan King. The film follows the daily lives of a newly married couple, Billy and Antoinette Edwards, living in Toronto. It documents their struggles and joys as they adjust to married life and the challenges that come with it. The film is shot in a cinéma vérité style, which means that it was filmed as events unfolded without any direction or pre-planning. This style of filmmaking gives the audience an intimate look into the lives of the characters, and A Married Couple is no exception. The camera captures the couple's heated arguments, their moments of tenderness, and their innermost thoughts and feelings.

Billy and Antoinette are both in their twenties and have been married for a few years when the film begins. Billy is an aspiring musician, while Antoinette is a working-class woman with two children from a previous marriage. They are both headstrong and opinionated individuals who clash frequently. The film shows their marriage tested by various issues, including financial problems, Billy's infidelity, and the strain of raising two young children.

As the film progresses, we see the couple's relationship evolve. They try to work through their issues, but it's not always easy. Their arguments become more explosive, and there are moments when it seems like they may not make it. However, there are also moments of great tenderness, where they express their love for each other in touching ways.

The film's depiction of marriage is refreshingly honest, and it doesn't shy away from the difficult aspects of married life. It's a raw, unfiltered look at a relationship that is far from perfect, but also far from hopeless. We see two people trying their best to make it work despite the odds stacked against them.

One of the most striking aspects of the film is its use of sound. The film is edited in a way that emphasizes the couple's arguments, with their raised voices ringing out through the theater. The sound design is jarring at times, but it serves to highlight the tension in their relationship.

Another interesting aspect of the film is its portrayal of gender roles. Antoinette is shown as the primary caregiver for the children, while Billy is often absent or focused on his music career. However, Antoinette also expresses a desire to have a more conventional marriage where Billy is the breadwinner and she can be a stay-at-home mother. This tension between their expectations of marriage and their actual roles adds another layer to their already complicated relationship.

A Married Couple is a groundbreaking film that tackled taboo subjects at the time of its release. It was considered controversial for its frank portrayal of sex and marriage, but it's now viewed as a seminal work in the documentary genre. The film's cinéma vérité style influenced many subsequent documentaries, and its honest depiction of married life paved the way for other films to explore the complexities of relationships.

In conclusion, A Married Couple is a must-see film for anyone interested in the documentary genre or the complexities of marriage. It's a raw, unfiltered look at a relationship that is both flawed and beautiful. The film's honesty and intimacy make it a powerful and unforgettable viewing experience.

A Married Couple is a 1969 documentary with a runtime of 1 hour and 37 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.5.