Some films arrive quietly, only to echo louder with time. When 20th Century Women premiered in 2016, it entered the A24 catalogue at a moment when the studio was gaining cultural momentum through titles like Moonlight and Hereditary. Despite its critical praise and Oscar nomination, Mike Mills’ coming-of-age drama slipped below the mainstream radar. Yet audiences who found it discovered a deeply human portrait of identity, feminism, and generational ties.
Years later, the film feels even more resonant. Set against the countercultural shift of 1979 Santa Barbara, 20th Century Women explores questions that define the current era: how people shape one another, how masculinity adapts to changing expectations, and how a fractured society searches for purpose. At its core stand three magnetic performances — Annette Bening, Elle Fanning, and Greta Gerwig — who embody the film’s emotional intelligence with remarkable nuance.
The film’s relevance has only grown as viewers revisit it through streaming platforms, prompting a reassessment of its legacy and its place within the evolution of A24 as a modern powerhouse.
A24’s Overlooked Masterpiece: The Context Behind Its Importance
Though A24 is celebrated for genre-defining hits across horror, comedy, and arthouse cinema, 20th Century Women stands as one of its most quietly enduring achievements. The film blends nostalgia with philosophical reflection, drawing on the political tension and cultural experimentation that marked the late 1970s.
The story centers on Dorothea (Annette Bening), a single mother struggling to understand her teenage son Jamie (Lucas Jade Zumann). As she reaches out to the women in their lives — Julie (Elle Fanning), Jamie’s complicated friend, and Abbie (Greta Gerwig), the tenant battling her own trauma — the film becomes a study of how people shape one another’s identities in ways they can’t fully predict.
Film scholar Dr. Rachel Kessler notes:
“20th Century Women is less a coming-of-age story and more a communal portrait. It argues that identity is not self-built, but co-authored.”
The Heart of the Film: A Mother and Son Divided by a Changing World
Dorothea struggles to understand Jamie not because she lacks love, but because she comes from a generation defined by emotional restraint. Jamie, meanwhile, reflects a new era — politically expressive, socially experimental, and fiercely searching for answers. Their tension mirrors the broader cultural divide of 1979: the fading postwar generation confronting the emerging punk-influenced youth.
The decision to enlist Abbie and Julie to help raise Jamie adds layers of emotional conflict. Each woman offers a different ideological lens, shaping Jamie in ways that Dorothea both appreciates and fears.
The result is both humorous and heartbreaking: comedic episodes of awkward intimacy and blunt dialogue punctuated by moments of genuine grief and self-realization.
The Three Central Women and Their Influence on Jamie
| Character | Portrayed By | Core Beliefs | Influence on Jamie |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dorothea | Annette Bening | Emotional restraint, independence | Teaches responsibility, stability |
| Abbie | Greta Gerwig | Feminist theory, punk culture | Teaches empathy toward women, social awareness |
| Julie | Elle Fanning | Complex teenage romance, disillusionment | Forces emotional maturity and perspective |
The Performances: Bening, Gerwig, and Fanning at Career Highs
Each performance in 20th Century Women is a study in emotional detail.
Annette Bening’s Subtle Brilliance
Bening delivers one of her most layered roles, portraying a woman who is intelligent, attentive, yet unable to articulate the vulnerability she feels. Her heartbreak is hidden behind small remarks — such as pretending her worry for Jamie is simply about cooking the right amount of dinner.
Film critic Laura Kline describes Bening’s performance as
“a masterclass in controlled emotion — a portrait of someone more afraid of honesty than hardship.”
Greta Gerwig’s Punk-Tinged Tenderness
Gerwig’s Abbie, recovering from trauma and embracing feminist ideology, brings warmth and defiance. Her mentorship of Jamie blends compassion with rebellion.
Elle Fanning’s Raw, Youthful Complexity
Julie’s mix of confidence, recklessness, and fear paints an intimate portrait of adolescence. Fanning’s performance captures the confusion of a young woman navigating relationships she isn’t ready to fully understand.
Why 20th Century Women Feels More Relevant Today Than in 2016?
The film’s political and social themes are anchored by one of its most memorable moments: President Jimmy Carter’s “Crisis of Confidence” speech. His message — that people feel adrift, disconnected, and unsure of their role in society — resonates powerfully in today’s landscape.
Questions raised in the film remain central today:
- How do men define themselves in relation to feminism?
- How do individuals find purpose amid cultural fragmentation?
- How does generational tension shape identity?
- What does community look like in an era of isolation?
The film suggests that identity is not an individual project but a collective process. Jamie becomes who he is because multiple people raise him — a metaphor for society itself.
Themes of the Film and Modern-Day Parallels
| Film Theme | 1979 Context | Modern Relevance |
|---|---|---|
| Masculinity & feminism | Rise of second-wave feminism | Ongoing online discourse about gender roles |
| Generational conflict | Post-Vietnam cultural divide | Modern political polarization |
| Search for purpose | Economic stagnation, identity crises | Anxiety, burnout, loss of direction |
| Communal upbringing | Counterculture households | Renewed interest in community-based support |
Why the Film Remains Underrated?
Despite critical acclaim, 20th Century Women didn’t reach the broader audience it deserved. Its soft emotional tone and character-driven storytelling stood in contrast to the more sensational A24 films that dominated the conversation.
But its enduring relevance, coupled with extraordinary performances, has prompted renewed interest.
Conclusion
20th Century Women stands as one of A24’s most insightful and emotionally rich films. Its examination of how people shape one another remains a powerful reminder that identity is not built in isolation. In a cultural moment defined by detachment and uncertainty, the film offers something rare: a compassionate argument for community, vulnerability, and shared experience.
Its relevance feels stronger today than upon release — a testament to its honesty, its performances, and its understanding of human connection. For many viewers, rediscovering 20th Century Women may be less a film experience than an emotional turning point.
FAQs
It is loosely inspired by director Mike Mills’ own upbringing.
No. It is a standalone drama.
Many critics widely expected an Oscar nomination that did not materialize.
Adults and older teens who enjoy character-driven stories about identity and relationships.
It blends both — humor softens the film’s emotional depth but never overshadows it.
