By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Director: Mike Mills
Starring: Alison Elliott | Billy Crudup | Elle Fanning | Greta Gerwig | Lucas Jade Zumann | nnette Bening | Thea Gill | Vitaly Andrew LeBeau
Country: united_states
Year: 2016
Running time: 119
IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4385888/reference
Hilary says: “Annette Bening plays Dorothea, a child of the Depression navigating the ever-changing world of 1979 as a divorced, atypically older mother of a teenager, willfully single, and working in a male-dominated profession. She is raising her teenage son, Jamie, in a rambling fixer-upper in Santa Barbara, living alongside by two boarder/tenants. Baffled by Jamie’s reckless behavior, she looks to his female best friend and her 20-something tenant to help raise him. Dorothea is at once laid back and uptight, her somewhat formal manner contrasting with her tousle hair, wardrobe of Birkenstocks and trousers, and ever-present cigarette. She is alternately warm and curious about the lives of those around her, but quickly withdrawing when pushed to be more open. As Jamie pushes for greater independence, exploring new ideas under the influence of his two new ‘mothers’, Dorothea and Jamie struggle to maintain the boundaries of their relationship as they come to know each other on a more individual basis. However, despite this friction, Dorothea and Jamie draw closer while redefining their parent-child dynamic. Ultimately, much as director Mike Mills’ first film was a tribute to his father, 20TH CENTURY WOMEN is a valentine to his mother, from whom the character of Dorothea is drawn.”