20th Century Women

20th Century Women, released in 2016, is a delectable cinema offering that resonates deeply with the era it represents by articulating the societal complexities and the evolving gender roles explicitly associated with the 20th century. Directed and written by Mike Mills, the film is a semi-autobiographical portrayal of the director's upbringing. The movie boasts an impressive line-up of stars such as Annette Bening, Elle Fanning, Greta Gerwig playing leading and pivotal roles.

At the heart of the narrative is the single mother Dorothea Fields (Annette Bening), who owns a once grand, now dilapidated dwelling in Santa Barbara, California, during 1979. Dorothea, a representative of the Depression-era generation, displays an elegant balance of traditional perspectives and an open-minded approach to the rapidly changing world around her. In an attempt to understand and navigate her 15-year-old son, Jamie's (newcomer Lucas Jade Zumann) coming of age in a confusing era, Dorothea seeks the aid of two younger women.

The first is Abbie (Greta Gerwig), a pink-haired and free-spirited punk artist who rents a room in Dorothea's house. Abbie’s tenacious and rebellious spirit counterpoints Dorothea’s mid-century demeanor, further fueling the intergenerational dynamic that forms the film's core. Abbie is influenced by the second wave feminism and her character delivers a rebellious yet compassionate portrayal of a young woman coming to terms with her own life choices, health issues, and a deeply ingrained desire to dismantle the patriarchal norms of society.

The second young woman to shape Jamie's world-view is his slightly older, somewhat enigmatic friend, Julie (Elle Fanning). Julie suffers from her own array of teenage confusions, simmering angst, and a complex relationship with Jamie. She sneaks into Jamie's bed often, not for the expected teen romance, but to escape from her own issues at home by finding companionship and solace. This creates a sensitive tension between Julie and Jamie and forms one of numerous angles through which the film explores intricate relationships.

This unconventional surrogate family’s dialogue significantly enhances the beauty of 20th Century Women: it is filled with passionate political debates, musings on art, life, relationships, i.e., insightful dollops of wisdom concurrently tempered with doses of unassuming humor. The film also provides an intriguing parallel between personal and global developments, using backdrop events such as the energy crisis, punk rock cultural emergence, and burgeoning feminism as integral influences on characters’ evolution.

The film oscillates between nostalgic unease, poignant melodrama, and sharp dialogues, each scene diffusing an intrinsic radiance that defines its narrative. 20th Century Women shines brilliantly through its articulate screenplay and intricate characters, echoing a heartfelt narrative infused with warmth, wit, and wisdom. Stretched across various perspectives, this film explores an unconventional take on motherhood, womanhood, and the significant implications that small moments can have on human lives, much in the vein of life itself.

Annette Bening, in her role as Dorothea, delivers an incredibly nuanced performance, marking the poise, confusion, and resilience that defines her character. Both Greta Gerwig leverages her indie-queen image effectively to breathe life into Abbie while Elle Fanning does a fantastic job of portraying the vulnerability and turmoil of an emotionally-confused teenager in Julie. Young Lucas Jade Zumann as Jamie impresses with his understanding and subtlety.

20th Century Women effortlessly contextualize the late 70s, with its perfect visual style, vibrant color palettes, lush cinematography and keen attention to the tiniest ever-changing cultural details, magnified beautifully through a soundtrack that perfectly complements the 1979 scene complete with songs from Talking Heads, Black Flag and The Clash.

In conclusion, 20th Century Women is an emotionally resonant, thought-provoking film that offers an insightful and unique exploration of the transitional period in the American sociocultural landscape through the lives of its enigmatic characters. Each character is excellently portrayed and they all contribute to a multifaceted examination about life, culture, evolution and the ties that bind people into unlikely families. The film itself is a tapestry of the human heart, dipped in the hues of the 20th century and crafted into a narrative that extends beyond conventional storytelling. Embroidered with humor, kindness, and a profusion of sentiments, 20th Century Women is a beautiful cinematic journey into a time and place filled with characters who intrigue, guide, and enchant.