20th Century Women

In select theaters
December 25^th 2016

118 minutes

English

With 20TH CENTURY WOMEN, acclaimed filmmaker Mike Mills (BEGINNERS) brings us a richly multilayered, funny, heart-stirring celebration of the complexities of women, family, time and the connections we search for our whole lives. It is a film that keeps redefining itself as it goes along, shifting with its characters as they navigate the pivotal summer of 1979. Set in Santa Barbara, the film follows Dorothea Fields (Annette Bening), a determined single mother in her mid-50s who is raising her adolescent son, Jamie (newcomer Lucas Jade Zumann) at a moment brimming with cultural change and rebellion. Dorothea enlists the help of two younger women in Jamie’s upbringing – via Abbie (Greta Gerwig), a free-spirited punk artist living as a boarder in the Fields’ home, and Julie (Elle Fanning), a savvy and provocative teenage neighbor. Mills expertly recreates the warmth and passion of a great memory – but also the urgency and energy of three generations in the throes of momentous transition. 20TH CENTURY WOMEN is a poignant love letter to the people who raise us – and the times that form us – as this makeshift family forges fragile connections that will mystify, haunt and inspire them through their lives.

starring...

Annette Bening

Dorothea

Elle Fanning

Julie

Greta Gerwig

Abbie

Billy Crudup

William

Lucas Jade Zumann

Jamie

Writer & Director

Mike Mills

Music

Roger Neill

Cinematography

Sean Porter

Film Editing

Leslie Jones

Casting

Mark Bennett, Laura Rosenthal

Production Design

Chris Jones

Set Decoration

Aimee Athnos, Neil Wyzanowski

Producer

Anne Carey, Megan Ellison, Youree Henley

83% on the CINEMETER

STL

80% - Dec 11, 2016

Introspective, existential film with the characters' threads woven over a generational backdrop that puts current events (political and personal) in perspective.
St. Louis Member

Loved the cinematography. Beautiful colors in each scene.
St. Louis Member

Wonderfully human exploration of the development of genders and generations in the important previous century. Love that it resists simplifying.
St. Louis Member

Annette Bening is a superb actress and this was a perfect vehicle for her. Each role was perfectly cast and each character was intriguing. Superb film!
St. Louis Member

ATL

81% - Dec 11, 2016

A beautiful depiction that is an observant and non-judgmental look at women in all of their truth and complexity. The wisdom of a man guiding the memories of a boy in retrospect. Completely represented in all visual and auditory choices. Rich and replete with detail in character and settings.
Atlanta Member

At first, I wasn't sure, but being a young adult of the sixties, I loved it! Kind, sweet, genuine, poignant, funny and FUN!
Atlanta Member

The acting was incredible--all 5 seemed effortless. Annette Benning is a national treasure. [Note--MANY raves for Annette Benning, including that she "is the coolest mother ever
."]

Atlanta Member

Such an extraordinary method of child-rearing. Appreciated the statements from the perspective of being an aging woman. Very surprised that a man wrote this.
Atlanta Member

I could have spent a whole other movie with these people. I want to be a part of that family. Music felt perfect and I want to commend the costume designer.
Atlanta Member

This movie harkened me back to my youth. One of the best soundtracks since "The Big Chill."
Atlanta Member

This was so much fun! I'm a few years younger than Jamie but I remember growing up with the same music. The menstruation-talk scene was one of the funniest ever.
Atlanta Member

MIL

91% - Dec 18, 2016

"a REAL film, down to earth"
Milwaukee Member

wonderful dialog...humorous, poignant, beautiful!
Milwaukee Member

Awesome!! Elle Fanning and Annette Bening. WOW!!!!
Milwaukee Member

Heartwarming and wise
Milwaukee Member

80% - Dec 18, 2016

This is the second screening of this film that I've seen, and it just keeps getting better and better, if that's possible. I saw nuances I missed the first time. The perfect movie to see more than once.
Washington, DC Member

Best use of Greta Gerwig I've seen. I watched this movie with my teenage son so our conversation will be . . . interesting.
Washington, DC Member

Best film of this film club season! I loved everything about it.
Washington, DC Member

If Annette Benning is in a movie, it is instantly better! She was a true light in this film.
Washington, DC Member

A fine portrait of certain sections of one's life. The characters become real, and it seems like a peephole into real people having real conversations. The film makes bold editing choices that could have been detrimental, but instead really worked.
Washington, DC Member

As great as the characters were, the music is what does it for me with this movie, illustrating tone, differences in characters, incongruity and change. From "time goes by" to "why can't I touch it," it's a great vehicle to tell the story.
Washington, DC Member

A24