In this week’s Movie Memory Machine: Five For mini-episode, Landen and Truman unpack five films that more meaningfully—and sometimes more messily—explore marriage, communication, and relationship evolution than Hope Springs ever dared. From cozy golden pond chats to sci-fi couples therapy gone wrong, this list offers everything from prestige Swedish drama to 1930s slapstick divorce. Hope might spring eternal, but these movies bring the nuance.

Films Discussed:

On Golden Pond (1981)

The One I Love (2014)

Scenes from a Marriage (1973 or 2021)

The Awful Truth (1937)

Before Midnight (2013)

Topics Covered:

Sunset vibes and legacy pairings in On Golden Pond

The One I Love and the lo-fi sci-fi spin on relationship repair

Bergman’s emotionally devastating take on marriage in Scenes from a Marriage

Slapstick meets sincerity in the classic The Awful Truth

Before Midnight as the most honest depiction of midlife marriage ever captured on screen

Key Takeaways:

Hope Springs may have opened the door, but these films walk through it (and sometimes slam it)

Scenes from a Marriage is therapy before therapy

Julie Delpy and Ethan Hawke prove love isn’t always quiet sunsets—it’s arguments in Greece too

The Awful Truth showed us that Hollywood’s been flirting with divorce for nearly a century

Listener Prompt:

Support the Show!

Become a Patreon supporter – For as little as $1/month, you get access to bonus content for all shows on the Grunt Work Podcast Network. Join at https://patreon.com/gruntworkpod

Leave a rating and review – On Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen.

Like, follow, and share on social media – We’re @MovieMemoryMachine on YouTube and @MovieMemoryPod on Letterboxd.

Tell a friend – Word of mouth is how we grow.

Join our Discord – Vote on whether films stay in modern memory or are left forgotten. Visit https://www.moviememorymachine.com for access.

Follow Us: 🌐 Website: https://www.moviememorymachine.com