Films Private Life

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Private Life poster

Film · 2018

Private Life

Directed by Tamara Jenkins · starring Kathryn Hahn, Paul Giamatti and Denis O'Hare

  • 2 h 3 min
  • 15
  • Comedy · Drama
  • USA
  • Released in the UK 4 October 2018
  • 8.7 AverageMovieNCo
  • 9.0 Users1 vote
  • 8.3 Critics11 reviews
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Synopsis

The film tells the story of Rachel, a writer based in Manhattan with her husband Richard. Both of them are looking forward to having a child, but once Rachel has reached 40, she does not have many chances to be in the natural way. Without knowing it, both will end up desperate to achieve a child and their marriage will begin to crack. Finally, when their doctor advises them to inseminate another woman to achieve their goal, Rachel will see how their marriage is destroying even more.

The film is directed by Tamara Jenkins (Oscar director nominee for Best Original Screenplay for 'The Savages') and is starring Kathryn Hahn ('Afternoon Delight' or 'Bad Moms') and Paul Giamatti ('Sideways' or 'Cinderella Man')

Where to watch Private Life

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Available now in the UK:

Availability checked on 8 November 2026.

The essentials

Runtime
123 min2 hours and 3 minutes
Rating
15Suitable only for 15 years and over
How long is Private Life?
2 hours and 3 minutes (123 minutes).
When was Private Life released in the UK?
It was released in the UK on 4 October 2018.
Who directed Private Life?
Tamara Jenkins.
Who is in Private Life?
It stars Kathryn Hahn, Paul Giamatti, Denis O'Hare and Molly Shannon.
Where can I watch Private Life?
In the UK it is available with a subscription on Netflix.
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Cast

Full cast (15)
Director
Tamara Jenkins
Writers
Tamara Jenkins
Producers
Anthony Bregman, Tamara Jenkins, Jeremy Kipp Walker

Videos and trailers

See the video
'Private Life' Trailer 2:5616 April 2019

Photos and posters

All 11 photos

Reviews

All 11 reviews
9.0 1 vote

What the critics say average 8.3 from 11 outlets

  • 10 Roger EbertMatt Zoller Seitz The film's writer-director, Tamara Jenkins is a brilliant chronicler of upper-middle class white people and their foibles, and her eye for detail is anthropologically exact, empathetic but never… Read
  • 10 New York TimesA.O. Scott Though it is poignant and funny in nearly equal measure, the most remarkable aspect of Private Life may be its lack of noticeable exaggeration. Ms. Jenkins is working at the scale of life, with the… Read
  • 10 Los Angeles TimesJustin Chang Jenkins constructs an entire narrative from little exchanges, reveries, complications and setbacks. With a mix of concentration and expansiveness that can take your breath away, she unpacks exactly… Read

Soundtrack

All 25 songs
  1. Say You Love MeJohn Lodge Spotify
  2. The Nitty GrittyShirley Ellis Spotify
  3. DriftBrian Eno Spotify
  4. Sleigh RideThe Ronettes Spotify

Trivia

  • ¿Reference?

    When the couple reviews the profiles of different sperm donors, one of the first candidates comes from Park City UT. 'Private Life' premiered at the Sundance Festival, which is celebrated in Park City.

  • The reader

    Richard is reading Karl Ove Knausgaard's 'My Struggle Book 1' during a bed scene.

  • Back to direction

    Tamara Jenkins returns to direct a movie after 11 years from of her last film, 'Savages'.

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