Marriage Story Christian Review
Marriage isn’t easy. Everyone knows that, whether you’re married or not. But watching a marriage unravel—especially one full of love, laughter, and genuine connection—is its own kind of heartbreak. Noah Baumbach’s Marriage Story takes us through that journey, making us sit with the pain, confusion, and fleeting beauty of a couple on the verge of collapse. From a Christian perspective, the film brings up some tough questions, deep emotions, and moments where faith and reality don’t always seem to line up.
It’s a film that doesn’t shy away from the mess of divorce, from the emotional wreckage to the bitter exchanges, but it’s also careful not to villainize anyone. Both Charlie and Nicole—played with devastating brilliance by Adam Driver and Scarlett Johansson—are real people. Not caricatures. Not “good guy” or “bad guy.” They’re flawed, they’re angry, they’re tender, and they’re confused. And if we’re being honest, the way Marriage Story portrays them will make you feel like you’ve been in that room with them, witnessing something personal, almost intrusive.
The Human Tug of War
At the center of the movie is this tug of war-between Charlie and Nicole, between their past love and their current reality. It’s palpable. You can feel the push and pull of their relationship, the moments of softness and cruelty, and how sometimes, they’re more at war with themselves than with each other. For Christians, marriage is supposed to be a lifelong covenant, something sacred that doesn’t just unravel. But in this movie, you’re forced to sit with the reality that marriages do fall apart, and not always because people stop loving each other. Sometimes, it’s because they love differently, and that love can’t hold them together anymore.
As Christians, we believe in the power of reconciliation, of forgiveness, of second chances. Yet, watching Marriage Story, you realize how hard those things can be in the middle of deep emotional wounds. There’s this constant reminder that love—while essential—can’t always fix the damage we do to one another. And that’s where the film hits home the hardest. There’s no easy resolution, no grand moment where faith swoops in and saves the day. It’s messy, it’s real, and in that way, it’s brutally honest.
Divorce as a Universal Pain
Divorce is universal. Whether you’ve been through it, witnessed it, or just heard about it, you know it’s a deep, scarring experience. Baumbach doesn’t sugarcoat any of this. He’s not trying to make divorce seem noble or necessary. Instead, he captures the emotional violence of it, the slow unraveling of two lives that were once so tightly intertwined. For Charlie and Nicole, divorce is tearing them apart, and you see how it breaks them down in ways they didn’t expect. There’s one scene—maybe the most powerful in the entire film—where they argue, and it feels like they’re trying to break each other. It’s uncomfortable to watch, and you almost want to look away, but you don’t because it’s just that real.
From a Christian standpoint, this scene is gut-wrenching. We’re taught that in marriage, we’re supposed to love our spouse as Christ loves the Church—selflessly, sacrificially, and completely. But here, you see two people who once had that kind of love turn into versions of themselves they never wanted to be. It’s a stark reminder of the brokenness in all of us, and how easily we can hurt the people we care about when things fall apart.
But Baumbach doesn’t leave you there, drowning in the venom of their fight. There’s a strange grace to the film too, moments of empathy and tenderness that peek through even the hardest moments. Charlie and Nicole may be angry and hurt, but they also remember their love, in small ways, whether it’s through shared memories or the way they both care for their son, Henry. That’s what makes the film so complex and layered. It’s not about choosing sides; it’s about understanding that people are more than just their worst moments.
Humor in the Heartache
Surprisingly, there’s humor in Marriage Story, which feels like a strange thing to say for a movie that’s so emotionally heavy. But it’s there, and it’s not forced. It’s the kind of humor that comes from real life—the awkwardness, the absurdity, the way we laugh because it’s the only thing that keeps us from crying. It’s these moments of humor that remind you that even in the worst of times, there’s still humanity left in us.
This is where the film aligns with a Christian understanding of grace. Even in the brokenness, there are glimpses of hope, of compassion, of the love that once existed. You see it in Charlie’s efforts to be a good father, despite his crumbling marriage, or in Nicole’s desire to find herself again, even if it means walking away from her husband. These moments are small, but they’re significant because they show that, even when people are hurting, they can still show kindness and grace.
A Secular View of Marriage
The one thing Marriage Story doesn’t do, though, is offer a clear path toward reconciliation or healing through faith. For Christians, that can be a tough pill to swallow. The film takes a secular view of marriage, where it’s less about a covenant with God and more about two people who tried their best but couldn’t make it work. It doesn’t suggest that divorce is the best option, but it also doesn’t hold out hope for a miracle solution. Instead, it’s about coming to terms with the reality of who Charlie and Nicole are, and how their lives are shifting in ways they didn’t expect.
This absence of spiritual hope is where the film might feel lacking for a Christian audience. We believe that there’s always hope, always a chance for redemption, and always room for God to work in even the most broken circumstances. But Marriage Story doesn’t offer that. It’s a grounded, realistic portrayal of divorce, but one without the kind of hope that faith provides. It leaves you amid the mess, without a clear answer for what comes next.
The Emotional Aftermath
After watching Marriage Story, there’s a heaviness that lingers. It’s not the kind of film that wraps things up neatly with a bow. It leaves you thinking about the pain of relationships, the way we hurt each other, and the ways we fail to live up to the ideal of selfless love. But it also leaves room for empathy, for understanding that even in our brokenness, there’s still humanity left.
From a Christian perspective, the film is a powerful reminder of the importance of forgiveness, compassion, and humility in relationships. It shows the consequences of pride and selfishness, and how easily love can turn into something painful. But it also reminds us that, even amid our mistakes, there’s room for grace, if we’re willing to accept it.
Conclusion
In the end, Marriage Story is a film that will make you feel deeply—sometimes uncomfortably so. It’s raw, emotional, and unflinchingly honest in its portrayal of a broken marriage. For a Christian audience, it’s both a challenge and a reminder of the sacredness of marriage, and the importance of fighting for it, even when it’s hard. But it’s also a film that leaves room for grace, even in brokenness. That’s where its power lies. It’s a movie that shows us the mess of life, but also the beauty that can still be found, even when things fall apart.
Christian Rating: 7/10. There’s humanity, but not enough hope.
