I was invited to see a screening of the movie "20th Century Women" directed by critically acclaimed director Mike Mills, on December 6, 2016. Highlighting the paradigm of late 1970's, early 1980's America, "20th Century Women" tells the story of a mother's love for her son that, in turn, reveals deeper feelings in both of them and all those around them.
Right away, a viewer can tell that the movie is shot in a "period-piece" kind of way, except with the 80's being the focus instead of eighteenth century England. From the scenery shots, coloring, to the way people dress, there is a definite sense of stepping back in time. Also, because it is set in California and the west coast, there is also a portrayal of the movie that has subtle fragments of "the flower child" movement and the summer of love.
Annette Bening plays the mother, Dorothea Fields, and her relationship with her son Jamie is the driving force in the movie. Annette is absolutely devoted to Jamie, and is focused on a single-minded goal of getting him to be a well-adjusted man; she enlists every other major character in the movie to help her do so. In the process, Dorothea herself is challenged by every character on what truly motivates her as a woman: her son Jamie, his friend Julie, and the tenants boarding in her home Abbie, a nonconformist punk artist, played by Greta Gerwig, and William, played by Billy Crudup, the only other male character besides Jamie who is characterized as "post-hippie".
Jamie is a young teenager trying to find himself and is stepping into the world of adult feelings that include but are not limited to love, sex, differences between men and women, learning things in unconventional ways, independence, and how to reciprocate. In a breakout performance, Lucas Zuuman as Jamie brings to the screen the feelings of coming-of-age and not knowing who you are on the inside, and having to rely on those around you to be your mirror. "20th Century Women" captures the idea of introspection very well.
Other notable performances include Elle Fanning as Julie, Jamie's childhood friend and first big crush who sneaks into his room every night. Julie is like an adult in a teenager's body who questions and dissects the motives of everybody around her. Being that Julie is raised by a psychiatrist mother who forces her to attend her therapy sessions for teen girls, Julie comes across as a deep, goth-like girl who is both fragile and intimidating. Fanning's character is someone who millennials could probably relate to and see themselves in.
"20th Century Women" isn't just a coming-of-age story, but also a strong discussion on the nature of feminism, discussed through every character, including Jamie and William. The movie highlights female sexuality and how people are even afraid to discuss things like menstruation. The characters also discuss how men view sex with women, men and women being friends and how sex fits into the relationship (or how it doesn't), and various other ideas that may have been taboo to talk about openly in the 1980's, but were being touched upon behind closed doors. This movie contains interesting discussion on feminism, but it can be especially helpful for men who are trying to understand how they fit into feminism.
"20th Century Women" is already getting "Oscar-worthy" nods, and is likely to open a discussion on ideas about the relationship between men and women, and the reality of the lives strong, independent women. With a cast that has great chemistry onscreen, this is the kind of movie a family can go see together and have a discussion about afterwards. "20th Century Women" will be open in theaters on Christmas Day.
