Edinburgh International Film Festival

Married Life, a film by Ira Sachs and starring Pierce Brosnan, Chris Cooper and Patricia Clarkson, is an excitingly slow paced romp through a classic story of love, deception, and betrayal. The film’s opening scene takes place in 1949, and it is apparent from the beginning that the filmmakers want to show this little section of the United States in all its baby booming glory. The movie is resplendent with tuxedos, fedoras, cigarettes and alcohol. Sleek postwar Mercurys and Fords dot the screen.
The characters show none of the shallowness often shown in films set in the period. They are well developed and deep, and one can understand the impetus for their actions. The film feels as if its creators sought to achieve a 1950s period piece on the level of a Shakespearean tragedy and very nearly succeeded. In places it can be very slow, and in others it has unnecessary plot twists and shake ups. The acting and casting for the film is superb, the story is decent, and the imagery and sound excellent. I give Married Life four stars for being a good movie in most respects.