A few weeks ago Luca gave me the heads up on a special Q&A screening of Mike Mills new film Beginners at the Dendy cinema in Newtown. I quickly snapped up 2 tix for Christina and myself (lucky as it was a sold out event). It turns out Andrew and Murray form Semi-Permanent were hosting the screening.
From writer/director/graphic designer/illustrator Mike Mills comes a comedy/drama about how deeply funny and transformative life can be, even at its most serious moments. Beginners imaginatively explores the hilarity, confusion, and surprises of love through the evolving consciousness of Oliver (Ewan McGregor). Oliver meets the irreverent and unpredictable 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 – following 44 years of marriage – came out of the closet at age 75 to live a full, energized, and wonderfully tumultuous gay life. The upheavals of Hal’s new honesty, by turns funny and moving, brought father and son closer than they’d ever been able to be. Now Oliver endeavors to love Anna with all the bravery, humour, and hope that his father taught him.
Such a beautiful film and I’m a huge Mills fan now. I related instantly to his Dad passing away, and how the experience gave him the immense strength and drive to make the film a reality. I’m hoping the film reaches more people, hopefully outside of the Dendy and into more mainstream cinemas. It’s beautiful, touching, moving, real and funny.
Visit the movie site, buy tickets at the Dendy and after the film be sure to check out Mike’s Begginers blog site for more insight.