The Family Nest (1979) - ★★★★

Director: Béla Tarr
Writer: Béla Tarr
Stars: Laszlone Horvath, Laszlo Horvath, Gabor Kun

The Family Nest is the debut feature film by Hungarian director, Béla Tarr. It has such a unique style of storytelling, and a story that becomes riveting as it progresses. I didn't enjoy the film much at the start, but I ended up loving it towards the end. It had a really edgy feel to it. The black and white cinematography, absence of music, and lack of narrative made The Family Nest look more like a documentary than anything. I think that was the point of the film anyway. To show the world some of the very real problems that people had to face back in communist Hungary, 1979. It reminds me of films by Ingmar Bergman, with its in-depth look at the characters and their discussions. This film did test my patience at the start, but it was very rewarding in the end.

Kramer vs. Kramer (1979) - ★★★★

Director: Robert Benton
Writers: Avery Corman (Novel), Robert Benton (screenplay)
Stars: Dustin Hoffman, Meryl Streep, Justin Henry, Jane Alexander, Howard Duff, George Coe, JoBeth Williams

Kramer vs. Kramer is one of those movies that makes your brain spin, trying to decide who is right, who is wrong, and what's the best possible outcome. It gives us the complicated story of a broken family, never picking one side over the other. It's not a funny, entertaining film at all. This movie is the very definition of a drama. The feelings of the characters and their circumstances are presented beautifully, and performed masterfully by Dustin Hoffman, Meryl Streep and Justin Henry. This is a movie that is sure to cause conflict among viewers. Heated debates and discussions are sure to follow after watching this movie, because in the end, everyone has their own opinion on who deserved custody of the child. That's what makes this such a great movie.