Bode Recommends: 20th Century Women (2016)

Has there ever been a certain movie you wish had opened at a certain point in your life?

It may seem like a vague question (and believe me, I wish I were a better-enough writer to figure out a better way to frame it), but I’m sure we all have that one.

I know I have a few and 20th Century Women is most certainly one of them. The film opened near the end of 2016, where it received critical acclaim and an Oscar nomination the following year for Best Original Screenplay. During that time, I was a college student in my fourth and final year, wading through it all.

As I watched it for the first time earlier this year, I was angry - not only at myself for putting it off this long, but angry that Mike Mills didn’t make this any sooner. Because I know if I had watched this as a high schooler, it might’ve changed my life profoundly.

Like Mills' previous features Beginners and Thumbsucker, but told in a more sprawling fashion and traveling far back to a time where punk rock and new wave were emerging, it’s a snapshot of certain individuals coming into their own, through the stories they tell (whether it be from their own lives or from someone else’s) and even the music that they share.

No matter the topic - first real love, feminism, the world of the woman’s body, who they are, what they like - they listen to each other, understand each other and learn so much in the process. As a result, we listen, understand and learn so much as well. Or at least, I learned a lot.

Like Jamie, I’m close with my own mother and I like to think that I took at least some of my being from her - as well as the other women in my life. I also like things that are considered “feminine” and was picked on by classmates for that very reason (mostly in middle school).

(I do question how Talking Heads would be considered as such, but still, that scene sort of hit home.)

These are people trying to make sense of their identities and the passing of time itself - like we all are, no matter our age, race or gender and being invited to experience that with these characters (albeit alone in a dark room with my laptop) made me feel less worried and less regretful about the choices I’ve made (and will make) in my own life - whether it be from the past or for the future.

If you ever needed a film that lets you know in some way that you are not alone, 20th Century Women is required viewing. I know I did and I'm thankful that it even exists.

You can watch 20th Century Women on Netflix (Canada) and Amazon Prime (US)