- published: 01 Feb 2011
- views: 2248796
Beginners is a 2010 American romantic comedy-drama film written and directed by Mike Mills. It tells the story of Oliver (Ewan McGregor), a man reflecting on the life and death of his father (Christopher Plummer) while trying to forge a new romantic relationship with a woman (Mélanie Laurent) dealing with father issues of her own.
Beginners premiered at the 2010 Toronto International Film Festival, where the Los Angeles Times heralded it as a "heady, heartfelt film" with a cast who has "a strong sense of responsibility to their real-world counterparts". Plummer received numerous accolades, including an Academy Award, for his performance.
The film is structured as a series of interconnected flashbacks. Following the death of his father Hal, Oliver reflects on his relationship with Hal following the death of Oliver's mother Georgia. Shortly after her death Hal came out as gay to his son and began exploring that aspect of his life. Hal finds a boyfriend, Andy, and surrounds himself with a circle of gay friends. Hal is then diagnosed with terminal cancer. Following an extended illness during which Oliver helps care for him, Hal dies.
Have you ever seen some cruel aspects of life?
I shouldn't wonder if cruelty runned in our blood
Some people I could mention sneer at me and you
Under colour of perpetuation of laws
They wanna stick to over and over again
More cynical, more sharp cult to pain
Spiral of restrained retaliation
Beginners are preferable scapegoats
Have you ever thought why can't we stop these jokes?
That's how things are and I get the impression that I'm wasting words
Tacit resignation, endurance... it's peculiar to you
Next year old punished novices will perpetuate that suffering too
Over and over again
Sad experiences and a sarcastic "No pain, no gain"
Circle of vain iniciations