20th Century Women * * * *

Jamie with his expert life coaches.

     20th Century Women is directed by Mike Mills,  the same writer / director who gave us Beginners, the story of his father coming out as gay.  Having done with his Dad he’s now moving on to Mum (watch out Aunts and Uncles you’re next).  

      20th Century Women is set in the late 1970’s. Jamie is a boy in his mid teens.  He lives with his Mum, an intelligent but somewhat lonely woman who runs a boarding house in Santa Barbara.   

       The boarding house is also home to Will who does never ending renovations to the place, and Abby (Greta Gerwig), a photographic artist who is a somewhat confused girl in her late twenties: she has a few personal problems, including the diagnosis of cancer.

      One of Jamie’s best friends is Julia, a girl a tiny bit older than himself.  She is happy to explore her sexuality with other boys, but not with Jamie, because she likes him too much and doesn’t want to spoil their friendship.  To exacerbate the pain of that she likes to sleep with him.

       The essence of the story is Jamie’s relationship with his Mum who is worried that he might not be well rounded in his development due to the absence of a father. (Will does not relate to Jamie particularly well so it’s no good turning to him as a masculine role model.)  

     His Mother feels that input from Julie and Abby will be helpful to Jamie.  After all, who better to teach a young man about life than a chain smoking lonely Mum in her fifties, a confused sick girl burdened with personal issues and a promiscuous teenager who wants an intimate but sexless relationship?  But this film does not mock their efforts.  Quite the opposite.  

      Through a mixture of good-will, dumb luck and an unusual fascination (for a teenage boy) with some feminist writing,  Jamie develops an understanding of the opposite sex that is much more sophisticated than the average teenage boy. Rather than boastful tales told between boys Jamie learns through the books Abby gave him: He might be a virgin but he is the only boy on the block to know about a clitoris.

       Even though nothing truly remarkable or impactful happens, no one does or says anything profound, there is an extraordinary honesty in this film. The director seems to believe that the many seemingly innocuous scenes will come together to make a commanding portrait. He’s right.  

       There are many talky scenes held in kitchens, cars and bedrooms.  There are quotes from feminist texts, Talking Head songs, punk songs of the era, a moving speech to the nation by President Carter.   It’s like a formidable building made of many small bricks.  I found myself quite entranced by this film and thoroughly enjoyed being immersed in the time and place and being with these people.

      Quite simply it's a superbly acted, very funny, intelligent, highly entertaining film.