Private Life is a Netflix original movie, directed by Tamara Jenkins. The movie follows the story of Richard and Rachel, a middle-aged couple living in New York City. Richard is a respected theater producer, while Rachel is a writer who gave up her career to focus on their pursuit of parenthood.
After years of failing to conceive, Richard and Rachel's relationship becomes strained as they navigate the world of assisted reproduction and domestic adoption. The movie explores the different technologies that they try, including in vitro fertilization and egg donation. They also try to adopt a child, but are met with numerous obstacles, including their age and Rachel's previous health issues.
As they struggle to conceive and adopt, their marriage becomes more strained and their relationships with their families and friends become awkward due to their obsession with starting a family. The couple's journey is complicated by the arrival of Sadie, Richard's niece, who is a college student studying writing.
The film captures both the pain and humor of infertility and the difficulties of preserving a marriage while caught up in the desperation of repeated disappointments. The performances of Kathryn Hahn and Paul Giamatti are lauded for their authenticity and humor. The movie is a poignant and honest representation of the daily realities of infertility and the emotional strain it can put on a couple's relationship.