The Story of Us (1999)

Ben and Katie Jordan have been married for 15 years and have two children, Erin and Josh, a nice home and a comfortable life. Their initially happy marriage, however, turns into a sham: a performance they deliver daily for the benefit of their children. Behind the scenes they cannot stand each other anymore. They met while working for a comedy show, and instantly connected. Katie flashes back to moments where they argued, saying eventually they replaced the arguing with silence. After sending their kids off to summer camp, Ben and Katie commence a trial separation, during which both try to recall what it is about the other that led them to fall in love in the first place. They both meet with their corresponding circles of friends, each sharing what is happening in their relationships, including intimacy, except the Jordans. Ben flashes back to a phone call with Katie, where neither is really listening to the other. One night, after each of them has a positive flashback, they have a brief call about the kids. Another day, she calls him seeking a number and alerting him that his dry-cleaning was delivered, and he goes to the house for dinner. Both are nervous, but the dinner goes well, so they go to their bedroom. They chat about their various marriage counselors they've seen over the years, then both feel like their corresponding parents are present. While Ben wants to make up, Katie says they first need to repair problems, which leads to an argument where she storms off. Mid-summer they go to Parents' Day at camp. Ben breaks down upon seeing their kids, but both he and Katie maintain their composure throughout the day. Erin sneaks into their room that night. Ben flashes back to a year ago. Ben and Katie took a trip to Italy, which worked well until they were back home, where they fell back to old patterns. Back home, Katie goes to a Thai cooking class recommended by a divorcé. He asks her to dinner. In the meantime, Ben goes to dinner with a couple they're friends with. After he has a meltdown, he has an epiphany about her perspective. Rushing home, he finds his wife preparing dinner with the divorcè. A bit before Ben and Katie go to pick up the kids from camp, they agree on a plan to tell the kids, starting with a nice dinner. On the way, Katie is hit with a wave of memories of their life together, both good and bad. This time Katie cries when seeing the kids. Ben names the restaurant they'd agreed on, but she counter-proposes another. Then she monologues about how they have to take the bad with the good. And they stay together.