Out Now
Beginners
Beginners is a thoughtful, joyous and tender film about love, romance, loss and life in all its messiness and beauty.
The past and present of Oliver's (Ewan McGregor) life is expertly and effortlessly woven through the narrative. There's the present, when Oliver meets and falls in love with the beguiling and cheeky Anna (Melanie Laurent), only months after his father Hal (Christopher Plummer) has passed away.
This new love floods Oliver with memories of his father, who, after the death of his wife of 45 years, came out of the closet to live a wonderfully full gay life. This makes Oliver reflect on his bittersweet childhood of parents who were no longer in love or in synch. As memories of the past mix with life in the present, Oliver's relationships with both his late father and Anna deepen and reorder. The upheavals of Hal's honesty brought father and son closer than they'd ever been able to be. Oliver now endeavours to love Anna with all the bravery, humour, and hope that his father taught him.
Filmmaker and graphic artist Mike Mills' approach to filmmaking reflects his art as the movie darts, dreams and dances with inspired ideas, delightful devices and a playful dynamic. One of the best characters is the Jack Russell terrier, Arthur, Hal's dog that Oliver takes in after his passing. Oliver chats to Arthur about how he's feeling, and Arthur responds in turn. A generous, profound and enchanting film, Beginners is a rare cinematic achievement.
When it comes to love, we're all beginners.
