20th Century Women is a multi-faceted narrative that’s very specifically set in the Santa Barbara of 1979. It focuses on five main characters – Dorothea, Jamie, Julie, Abbie, and William – but most clearly centres on Jamie (Lucas Jade Zumann) as he takes tentative steps into manhood and the 1980’s. Written and directed by Mike Mills, this film is a loving retelling of his personal history, told through the eyes of strong female characters at different stages of life, and who all have love and compassion for an only child that their lives envelope.
Dorothea (Annette Bening), Jamie’s solo mother, is concerned her son isn’t getting the right (or enough) influence as he progresses through his teen years. Though liberal thinking and generally less restricted than others of the time, she is a product of the post-war depression and, at her core, risk averse. With this in mind, a moment of self-awareness leads her to engineer greater social variety in the life of her only child. Firstly, in the traditional sense of accompanying roommate/handyman William (Billy Crudup) as he works on the house. Then, secondly, by enlisting the other two prominent female presences in his life – roommate Abbie (Greta Gerwig) and best friend Julie (Elle Fanning). The self-awareness shown by Dorothea is shown in contrast to other areas of her life. A heavy smoker, she chooses the ‘healthier’ cigarettes opposed to stopping smoking.
The focus of this unconventional group parenting helps Jamie grow and become more rounded as a person. This seems to be the most praised aspect of the film, and that’s understandable, but for me (also a benefactor of a solo mother) I felt the film showed us how Jamie helped the women move away from places that weren’t particularly healthy. Crucially, the film is brave enough to hold both positions and respects the audience to be able to follow without constant exposition. It’s impressive that the film can cover so many bases, reflecting what different viewers bring to it, while still working as a coherent whole.
‘20th Century Women’ is set, primarily, in an old, large, west coast home that is slowly being renovated to former glories whilst transforming into something new. The house is important as it centres the film physically but also represents many of the films themes. Its age and its renovation can be seen to represent the various stages of life each of the core characters are at, and the transformation its undergoing is the growth they are experiencing. Multiple times parties are held in the house, warm and welcoming affairs that allow thoughts to be shared safely and openly. Again, we see these attributes reflected in those the house shelters. Not always, of course, but we’re left feeling it is a good place that helps make good people.
Strong, varied female representation will always be important in a film called ‘20th Century Women’, and it’s this strength that also highlights the absence of male representation. William is present, of course, but is shown to be a touch lost and is struggling to find his own path. Jamie’s father is briefly shown and alluded too, but essentially doesn’t exist. This lack of a core masculine presence is refreshing and reflected in Jamie’s actions through the narrative. When challenged at a skatepark for liking Talking Heads, his first instinct isn’t towards a physical fight because, you feel, refreshingly, that he’s grown up in an environment that doesn’t prioritise such attributes. Equally, when accompanying Abbie to the doctors, he is a supportive, empathetic presence and far from any masculine representation he’s known in his life to date.
Although originally released in January, 2017 (US), you can’t help think of a more recent representation of male growth, ‘Call Me by Your Name’, when watching ’20th Century Women’. Though the central teenage presences are tackling different issues in different environments, many aspects marry up between the two films. Both touch on unconventional parenting styles that are reflected in the houses that centre the films, and both are concerned with the man the teenage boy will become.
’20th Century Women’ is an impressive, if not important, film. The story it tells is refreshing in its complexity and diversity, but too often the workings behind it can be seen and a touch of the magic can be lost. Whilst ‘Call Me by Your Name’ is a superior film, together they would make a wonderful double-header on wintery New Zealand weekend that’s crying out for sun dappled images.
By Ryan Goodyear
22nd May 2018