There aren’t any groundbreaking historical events at the heart of 20th Century Women, yet it makes a quietly powerful case why the late 1970s were a transformational period for so many Americans, while simultaneously saluting the nurturing power of surrogate families.
This ensemble drama from director Mike Mills (Beginners) is about ordinary folks fitting into the cultural and socioeconomic fabric of the era, and its evocative re-creation transports you to a very specific time without resorting to cheap nostalgia.
It follows Dorothea (Annette Bening), a middle-aged single mother in southern California trying to raise her teenage son, Jamie (Lucas Jade Zumann) in southern California in 1979. Since her impulsive nature and generational eccentricities create some tension, she enlists the help of two younger women to assist in Jamie’s upbringing.
Abbie (Greta Gerwig) is a free-spirited artist who lives as a boarder in Dorothea’s home, and Julie (Elle Fanning) is a frequent young visitor whose friendship with Jamie has never evolved into anything more. Also hanging around is a handyman (Billy Crudup) who has personal troubles of his own.
Low on plot but rich in atmospheric touches, the film sometimes confuses quirkiness for depth when it comes to the characters — and its narration and shifting points of view seem gimmicky — but it’s still an insightful glimpse into the period, with a particular focus on music and literature.
The screenplay by Mills weaves together stories of motherhood, middle age, teenage angst, relationships, health issues, sexuality, feminism, and generational strife. Although it occasionally needs more narrative momentum to match its offbeat vibe, there are plenty of heartfelt moments both humorous and poignant. Mills deftly juggles shifts in tone in a way that feels more authentic than forced.
The performances are well-rounded and sophisticated — Bening’s portrayal is especially powerful — and the titular women are each strong and independent despite their insecurities and vulnerabilities.
Indeed, there’s a timeless quality to many components of their respective journeys of self-discovery that rarely becomes lost amid the period-specific idiosyncrasies. As Dorothea explains one particularly impetuous decision: “This is no time to be rational, sweetie. Can you just go with this?” It seems 20th Century Women asks the same question of moviegoers, who will likely oblige.
