Married Life

Married Life

Year: 2008

Runtime: 91 min

Language: English

Director: Ira Sachs

Budget: $12M

DramaRomanceCrime

A man grapples with a dark obsession as his marriage deteriorates, contemplating a drastic act to alleviate his wife's suffering during their impending divorce. The narrative explores a complex web of deceit and desire, drawing others into a tangled situation where their own moral boundaries are tested. The film portrays the intricacies and contradictions inherent in long-term relationships, revealing the fragility of love and the potential for destructive choices.

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Timeline & Setting – Married Life (2008)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Married Life (2008). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

1949

In 1949, American society was still navigating the afterglow of World War II. Postwar prosperity masked conservative social mores, especially around marriage, fidelity, and reputation. The era's expectations push the characters toward secrecy, propriety, and desperate measures.

Location

United States

Set in the United States during the late 1940s, the story unfolds within a wealthy suburban social circle. The houses, backyards, and social gatherings reflect the era's emphasis on appearances and propriety. A tightly knit community of businessmen, wives, and mistresses drives the drama.

🗽 United States 🏡 Suburban milieu 🕰️ Postwar era

Last Updated: November 22, 2025 at 15:27

Main Characters – Married Life (2008)

Meet the key characters of Married Life (2008), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Harry Allen (Chris Cooper)

A successful middle-aged businessman whose emotional reawakening through an affair with Kay destabilizes his life. He is calculating and desperate to avoid divorce, ultimately plotting to poison his wife rather than face humiliation. His actions expose a controlling, self-serving streak and the corrosive power of secrecy.

💼 Midlife crisis 💔 Infidelity 🗝️ Control

Kay Nesbitt (Rachel McAdams)

A young war widow who becomes the focus of Harry's renewed passion. She seeks validation and independence but is drawn into a complicated web of relationships with both Harry and Richard. Her decisions pivot the love triangle and reshape the social circle.

💃 Rebellious 🌟 Independence 💔 Affair

Pat Allen (Patricia Clarkson)

Harry's wife, oblivious to her husband's infidelity, while herself engaging in an affair with John O'Brien. She embodies the era's poised socialite who also grapples with hidden desires and vulnerability. Her marriage remains central to the network of relationships.

🎀 Socialite 🧭 Loyalty tested

Richard Langley (Pierce Brosnan)

Harry's best friend who pioneers the entanglement by steering Harry toward Kay, then pursues Kay himself. He eventually marries Kay and becomes part of the Allens' social circle, illustrating how friendship can blur into complicity within this world.

🎭 Charmer 🧩 Schemer

John O'Brien (David Wenham)

Pat's lover and a figure within the social circle who participates in the web of affairs. He represents the impulse to seek connection outside the marriage and contributes to the moral ambiguity of the group.

🎩 Outsider 🕵️‍♂️ Affair

Last Updated: November 22, 2025 at 15:27

Major Themes – Married Life (2008)

Explore the central themes of Married Life (2008), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

💔 Infidelity

The plot centers on extramarital affairs that threaten the marriages and social ties. Each relationship reveals different motivations—loneliness, desire, or fear of humiliation—and feeds the characters' entanglements. The film uses these betrayals to explore the fragility of trust in an appearance-driven milieu.

🔍 Secrets

Characters hide true intentions, sending letters and orchestrating encounters, weaving a web of deception they believe they can control. Secrets drive suspicion and paranoia, forcing each person to confront the consequences of hidden lives. The unraveling of these lies ultimately tests loyalties within the social circle.

⚖️ Morality

Harry's plan to murder his wife is a stark breach of ethics, revealing the lengths to which ambition and fear can push a person. The story examines guilt, accountability, and the heavy cost of preserving appearances. The era's moral expectations intensify the characters' choices and their consequences.

Last Updated: November 22, 2025 at 15:27

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Married Life Summary

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Married Life Summary

Married Life Timeline

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Married Life Timeline

More About Married Life

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