Two Strangers Trying Not to Kill Each Other
An intimate portrait of two married artists whose devotion is tested by aging, creative ambition, and an uneven sense of recognition.
Overview
A poignant exploration of love and creativity unfolds as two artists confront their deepest fears and desires.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- None
- intimate
- reflective
- witty
- quiet evening
- reflective weekend
What critics said
Critics broadly find the documentary deeply affecting, praising its candid access to a long marriage and its emotional investment in two unfamiliar people.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Joel Meyerowitz and Maggie Barrett navigate their loving bond alongside rivalry, artistic work, and unequal recognition.
Maggie’s writing career and rejection letters are contrasted with Joel’s greater commercial success and established reputation.
The film observes the couple’s extraordinary confrontations rather than presenting their relationship only through affectionate testimony.
The shared story is organized around photography, novel writing, aging, and the couple’s ongoing creative process.
Films like Two Strangers Trying Not to Kill Each Other, and why
My Love, Don’t Cross That River
intimate documentary portrait of an aging couple confronting love, identity, and changing family dynamics
Dick Johnson Is Dead
emotionally candid nonfiction portrait centered on aging, mortality, and the complicated bonds of marriage
The Painter and the Thief
observational artist documentary examining creative identity, personal relationships, and the gap between public success and private life
Movie Details
- Directors
- Manon Ouimet, Jacob Perlmutter
- Release Date
- 2025-03-21
- Runtime
- 100 min
- Rating
- 0.0 / 10
Cast
- Joel Meyerowitz
- Maggie Barrett
- Brenda Bufalino
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video
- Buy
- Amazon Video
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Two Strangers Trying Not to Kill Each Other about?
- An intimate portrait of two married artists whose devotion is tested by aging, creative ambition, and an uneven sense of recognition.
- What is Two Strangers Trying Not to Kill Each Other like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Two Strangers Trying Not to Kill Each Other as measured, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Two Strangers Trying Not to Kill Each Other violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in Two Strangers Trying Not to Kill Each Other.
- What did critics think of Two Strangers Trying Not to Kill Each Other?
- Critics broadly find the documentary deeply affecting, praising its candid access to a long marriage and its emotional investment in two unfamiliar people.
- Which films are like Two Strangers Trying Not to Kill Each Other?
- Films with a similar feel include My Love, Don’t Cross That River, Dick Johnson Is Dead, and The Painter and the Thief.
- How long is Two Strangers Trying Not to Kill Each Other?
- Two Strangers Trying Not to Kill Each Other runs 100 minutes.
- Where can I watch Two Strangers Trying Not to Kill Each Other?
- In United States, Two Strangers Trying Not to Kill Each Other is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video.
