“20th Century Women”: Comedy I
20th Century Women is Mike Mills’ third full-length feature film, and is the follow-up to 2010’s “Beginners”. It earned a well-deserved nomination for Best Original Screenplay at the Oscars this year. Mills’ most recent film focuses on a semi-autobiographical look into his mother's life, raising him in the ever-shifting zeitgeist of 1979. The story follows Dorothea (Annette Bening), as she enlists the help of her friends and partners: Julie (Elle Fanning), Abbie (Greta Gerwig), and William (Billy Crudup), in raising her only son, Jamie (Lucas Zumann). It’s a film that attempts to capture what it means to still be discovering yourself when you also have the responsibility of raising a teenager. The movie is beautiful in its simplicity and fluent writing, and brings to life a world of people almost forgotten.
Before we touch on the beautiful performances, much focus should be placed on the pinnacle of all good film; writing. Mike Mills delivers an engaging and thought-provoking piece that not only entertains, but brings forth a much deeper message of inner-growth and discovery. In this comedy/drama, it would be easy to slip into the melodramatic, but Mills is able to craft a space where the sadness never gets too melancholy, and there is always an air of lightheartedness around each character. This speaks to the true complexity of the writing, and the power of emotion that seems to drip from the page. By writing so effectively, Mills is able to guide his actors to flawless performances, in large thanks to the well-crafted script.
The cinematography utilized in this film fits so well into the vibe that Mills is setting throughout the story. The psychedelic colors and effects, the sharp editing, and the focus on faces throughout filming creates a wholesome experience for the viewer. It's easy to read the characters and understand their complexities through the careful consideration of well-placed shots. Perspective is key to this film, and works wonderfully in transporting us into the 70’s.
Each character in 20th Century Women is fleshed out and mesmerizing to watch. Because of the sharp writing and development, the actors are able to play and experiment with roles that are challenging and intriguing. While each actor brings such gravitas to each role, and makes you feel like you're watching real people, the major standout is Annette Bening. She shines in the role of Dorothea, conveying an adult still figuring things out herself as she grasps how to raise a teenage son. Bening is witty and charming; much attention should be payed to the careful balance of masking the emotions Dorothea hides, while also staying so open for the audience to feel what she's feeling. If anything, go see this film for this performance alone. Truly amazing.
20th Century Women is a powerful film; fully comfortable with itself, strong, radiant, and a joy to behold. Mills transports the viewer into a shifting world, represented by the women of the time. Dorothea is the old world, and the younger girls represent the ever-changing 70’s. While the young adults stay positive, Mills fashions a way of seeing Dorothea's conflict with the new world. She's a broken down soul, tired and sad. It's his job, as a director, to show the audience her inner being, and how the world reacts to it. As Dorothea so plainly states, “wondering if you're happy is a great shortcut to just being depressed”. This paradigm between her opinion of the world, and the other girls showcases the power the women bring to each other. They are there not to just raise Jamie, but to raise Dorothea herself. As Abbie tells Jamie beautifully, “whatever you think your life is going to be like, just know, it's not gonna be anything like that”. Never has it been more true than for Dorothea, and every person around her. The lessons we think we should be teaching, are the ones we find need to be taught most to ourselves.