Before watching 20th Century Women, the most important fact to note is that it is based on the real-life experiences of writer-director Mike Mills. Raised by his single mother, this movie is an ode to an unconventional upbringing, and you will find laugh-out-loud moments, thought-provoking moments, and moments that bring a lump to your throat.
Set in Santa Barbara, California, in 1979, this is the story of young Jamie (Lucas Jade Zumann), who is being raised by his divorced mother, Dorothea (Annette Bening). She rents the rooms in their house to a hippie named William (Billy Crudup) and a punk music-loving photographer, Abbie (Greta Gerwig). Julie (Elle Fanning) is Jamie's childhood friend who spends all of her time at his house to get away from her therapist mother, who is too busy solving others teens' problems to realize that her own daughter is spiraling. When Dorothea realizes that her son is turning into a difficult teenager and she doesn't know what to do with him, she turns to Abbie and Julie for help. Her logic is that they know him best and can talk to him in a way that a mother can't. Therefore, they must share their life experiences with him and help him through this phase of his life.
What follows is a sweet, funny story about what happens when a group of women teach a boy how to become a man. Abbie shares all of her feminist literature with Jamie, which is both educational and hilarious as it leads to fistfights with other boys over their poor understanding of female sexuality. Julie shares stories of her sexual exploits, all while rebuffing Jamie's advances because she wants them to remain friends. Dorothea loves him dearly but, like all parents, she is not infallible, and she struggles to find the right balance between trusting her son and disciplining him. The two of them try to regain their footing, striving to find a way to talk to each other about important things without arguing. As the supporting players chip in to do their part, the result is a warm and wise film that chronicles how parenthood is an endless parade of mistakes borne out of love.
The three women in this movie deliver outstanding performances. Bening exudes wisdom and kindness in every frame, saying so much with her eyes even when her dialogue is delivered quietly with a minimum of angst. Gerwig is spectacular as Abbie, portraying a strident feminist you would actually want to have meaningful conversations about the patriarchy with while you are doubled over with menstrual cramps. And Fanning continues to be one of my favorite young actresses today, delivering a sweet and honest performance as a young teenage girl who is trying to figure out her life, and is self-aware enough to not hurt Jamie but still hurt herself.
Shot vibrantly by cinematographer Sean Porter, with beautiful production design by Chris Jones, and steeped in literary and lyrical references to the 70's, this movie may be about a very specific period in time but tells a story that feels universal in scope. Everyone will be able to relate to some part of this story, whether it's the teenage angst, the parental pain, or discovering your identity through books, music, or interesting new people. 20th Century Women is a quiet movie that hasn't gotten much fanfare, but like most quiet movies, it speaks loudest to your heart.
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