Randy- Valid points you raise. But I don't know. The Balitimore Sun, years ago, wrote about this movie, noting "the film's popularity and power lie in its artfully authentic portrait of the ongoing battle in every human soul: between pleasure and duty, self and others, personal freedom and family-citizen obligations. 'Bridges' clarifies and dignifies the struggle and pain that inevitably follow our efforts to face these tensions, that is, to lead serious lives." The Sun article added: "At a crucial point in the film, Robert is brought by Francesca to confess that his free-love ethos is not a brave defense of 'autonomy' but a fearful retreat from the pain of 'needing what he cannot have.' The simpler but wiser Francesca responds that any serious life must come to terms with the natural fact that 'love refuses to obey our expectations,' and her courage in the face of this teaches us that dignity consists in living with the knowledge that some needs must go forever unmet." Divorce often invites unwanted consequences upon children, but loveless marriages do too. Thus, we must weigh these competing realities, and hope we make the right choice.

Thanks for reading!