Beginners
dir. Mike Mills · 2011
Oliver Fields grapples with the recent death of his father, Hal, who embraced life and love in unexpected ways after coming out late in life. As Oliver navigates his own romantic entanglements and the emotional legacy left by his parents, the film unfolds like a series of poignant vignettes, each revealing the intricate dance between love, loss, and self-discovery.
In 2003, 38-year-old graphic artist Oliver Fields has just lost his father Hal to cancer, 5 years after his mother Georgia's death. Oliver is naturally sullen because of his relationships with his parents growing up (especially his mother, who had a unique view of life) and watching their cordial but somewhat distant marital relationship, but he's more so now as he deals with his personal losses. He embarks on a relationship with French actress Anna, hoping that his re-energized relationship with Hal following Georgia's death, and Hal's new outlook on life, will show him how to act in a loving relationship. After Georgia's death, Hal came out of the closet and began to live with a new joie de vivre and have an open relationship with Andy, a much-younger man. Oliver's relationship with Anna has other obstacles, including her own vagabond lifestyle and Oliver inheriting Arthur, Hal's very needy Jack Russell terrier.
Talking points
- the impact of parental relationships on adult identity
- the complexities of love and commitment
- the representation of LGBTQ+ experiences in film
- the role of art in personal healing
