The other woman

Year of release : 2009

Run time : 1h38min

Genre : Drama

Cast : Natalie Portman, Lisa Kudrow

The movie is based on the book 'Love and other impossible pursuits' by Ayelet Waldman,published in 2006. In the UK the movie was released as 'Love and other impossible pursuits' ,which I think is a better title.

The movie opens with Emilia,who goes to take her step son from school. She is given a list of To Do Things by his nanny,from the ex wife of her husband. The kid tells her to get a car,as he doesn't want to walk, and home, he starts telling her about Ebay, where she could sell the baby's things. She gets upset, and storms out of the kitchen. When his father comes home, the kid tells on her, and his father tells him they won't sell the baby's things, because it makes Emilia sad. We find out the baby is dead.

This leads to the before the couple met, and we see how Emilia fell in love with her husband when they met, but he was married. She met the wife at the Christmas party, and after, while on a business trip (we see how all the things she says to him were lies,about not carrying her parents got divorced,about not wanting to get married..), he makes his first move on her, and they start an affair.

She gets pregnant, and because his wife didn't want another baby, he leaves his wife for Emilia.

Most of the movie Emilia is home, taking her step son from school,spending time with him, and getting upset when anyone brings up the baby,like when her step son says ,under the Jewish law,the baby didn't live long enough to be considered a person (which is ironic considering there's been research proving the soul enters the body in the 3d week of pregnancy,when the heart starts beating!),or when she hears her husband's ex wants another child hearing hers died.

At times the characters are unlikeable, due to what they are doing and saying, like the lead, who stole another woman's man,but in the first scene she actually says to a woman,"as if it's such a thing as a home wrecker",when she started an affair with a man she knew was married!She doesn't care about the ex wife's rules regarding that woman's son,keeps on saying they are comfortable, when they are rich..

She hates her father for cheating on her mother, saying he not only cheated on her mother, but also on her, but doesn't realize she did the same thing to another woman and child!

The ex (who's one of the best OB/GYN,top 3 in the city) wife also comes across as unhinged,until the end, when she decides to help her and seem to finally become friendly.

The movie is labeled a comedy,but I assure you it's not, I didn't laugh one time (there was nothing funny, they don't say anything funny). I did cry.

Wikipedia says the movie is about Emilia being separated from her husband which is not true (that happens at the end, after her many hysterics), or that she's sterile..I don't remember hearing that anywhere in the movie...

I usually don't like dramas,but this one kept me interested.

The actors were good. Natalie Portman looked good, I also liked her hair and clothes.(although there's a scene in which they just came from the snow,and she stays with the boots inside..who does that?!)

The soundtrack was fine.

The movie received negative reviews from critics, and grossed 1.4 million dollars at the box office.

The movie is for free on Kanopy; 7 days free on AMC+, AMC+ on Amazon Channel, AMC+ on AppleTv Channel, Paramount+ Amazon Prime Channel, FuboTv, Philo, Paramount+ with Showtime, Paramount+ on The Roku Channel, Sundance Now; for rent / sale on AppleTv.

Rating : Worth a watch !