Husbands and Wives, released in theaters on September 18, 1992, is a stark departure from Woody Allen‘s more whimsical romantic comedies. Shot in a documentary-like, hand-held style, it offers a raw, unflinching, and often uncomfortable look at two couples in the midst of marital turmoil.
The film’s plot centers on two interconnected couples. The first, Gabe (Allen) and Judy (Mia Farrow), are a seemingly stable pair who are taken aback when their best friends, Jack (Sydney Pollack) and Sally (Judy Davis), announce their separation.
This news sends a shockwave through their own relationship, prompting them to re-evaluate their lives and desires. Jack quickly begins seeing a much younger aerobics instructor, while Sally starts a new relationship with a man from her art class.
As Gabe and Judy try to navigate their friends’ changing lives, their own marriage begins to fray at the edges, leading them to explore new relationships as well.
Liam Neeson, Juliette Lewis, Lysette Anthony, Blythe Danner and Ron Rifkin round out the cast.
The film uses a series of confessionals, where the characters speak directly to the camera, to reveal their innermost thoughts and anxieties.
This technique, combined with the frenetic camera work, creates a sense of profound realism and emotional chaos.
Husbands and Wives is a film that eschews a traditional narrative in favor of a fragmented, almost voyeuristic glimpse into the lives of people grappling with dissatisfaction, infidelity, and the fundamental complexities of long-term relationships.
Husbands and Wives (Photo/TriStar Pictures)
Reception for Husbands and Wives
Husbands and Wives grossed $3.5 million on its opening weekend, finishing fourth at the box office.
The film would gross $10.6 million in its theatrical run.
Roger Ebert gave the film three and a half stars in his review.
Legacy
Husbands and Wives is rooted in its innovative filmmaking style and its brutally honest portrayal of modern relationships and the hand-held camera work, which was highly unusual for a mainstream film at the time, made the film feel immediate and authentic.
The film broke away from the polished aesthetic of typical Hollywood dramas, bringing a sense of vérité to the screen and also features a number of powerful performances, particularly from Davis, who earned an Academy Award nomination for her portrayal of the anxious and emotionally volatile Sally.
While the film’s subject matter is challenging and its narrative structure unconventional, it is widely regarded as one of Allen’s most mature and psychologically complex works.
Its unflinching gaze at the messiness of love and commitment has cemented its place as a classic of the genre.
