Beginners (2010)

A young man is rocked by two announcements from his elderly father: that he has terminal cancer, and that he has a young male lover.

Director:

Mike Mills

Writer:

Mike Mills

Stars:

Ewan McGregor, Christopher Plummer, Mélanie Laurent

Won 1 Oscar. Another 26 wins & 12 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Ewan McGregor	...	Oliver Fields
Christopher Plummer	...	Hal Fields
Mélanie Laurent	...	Anna
Goran Visnjic	...	Andy
Kai Lennox	...	Elliot
Mary Page Keller	...	Georgia
Keegan Boos	...	Young Oliver Fields
China Shavers	...	Shauna
Melissa Tang	...	Liz
Amanda Payton	...	Party Person
Luke Diliberto	...	Green Witch
Lou Taylor Pucci	...	Magician
Bambadjan Bamba	...	The Sads
Hana Jane	...	The Sads (as Hana Hwang)
Samuel T. Ritter	...	The Sads

Storyline

It's 2003. Thirty-eight year old graphic artist Oliver Fields has just lost his father Hal Fields to cancer, after Oliver's mother Georgia Fields passed away five years earlier. Oliver is naturally a sullen man due to his growing up relationship with his parents (his mother who had a unique view on life) and watching his parents' cordial but somewhat distant relationship with each other, but is more so now because of his personal family loss. Oliver embarks on a relationship with Anna, a French actress. Oliver is hoping that his re-energized relationship with Hal following Georgia's death and Hal's new outlook on life during that time will show Oliver how to act in a loving relationship. After Georgia's death, Hal came out of the closet and began to live with a joie de vivre that did not exist before, which included an open relationship with a much younger man named Andy. Oliver's relationship with Anna has other obstacles, including Anna's own vagabond lifestyle and Oliver needing to...

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Plot Keywords:

death | terrier | flashback | cancer | actress | 

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Taglines:

This is what love feels like.

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language and some sexual content

Details

Official Sites:

Official Blog Official Facebook

Country:

USA

Language:

English French

Release Date:

9 June 2011 (Germany)

Also Known As:

Beginners, así se siente el amor

Filming Locations:

Akbar - 4356 Sunset Boulevard, Silver Lake, Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$3,200,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$141,340 (USA) (3 June 2011)

Gross:

$5,776,314 (USA) (2 September 2011)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Olympus Pictures, Parts and Labor, Northwood Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

105 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital DTS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Mélanie Laurent claimed that the canine star of the film, Cosmo, did not like her very much because he was jealous of Laurent's relationship with costar Ewan McGregor and director Mike Mills.

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Goofs

Oliver (Ewan McGregor) goes to a fancy party as Austrian psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud, but his accent is more Bavarian than Austrian.

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Quotes

Hal: Well, let's say that since you were little, you always dreamed of getting a lion. And you wait, and you wait, and you wait, and you wait but the lion doesn't come. And along comes a giraffe. You can be alone, or you can be with the giraffe.
Oliver: I'd wait for the lion.
Hal: That's why I worry about you.

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Connections

Featured in Ebert Presents: At the Movies: Episode #2.1 (2011)

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Soundtracks

"Bach Suite"
Performed by Brian Reitzell

User Reviews

A late life discovery. A love story that transforms and it's memorable even though different it's comparable.

"Beginners" is a film that may not be everyone's cup of tea, still it's an emotional drama that is touching a memorable film it proves love is complex and unexpected yet it's memorable and often a late discovery and no matter how different it's the same. Set in 2003 in California a graphic designer Oliver(Ewan McGregor)starts to reflect on life, love, and everything in general after the loss of his father Hal(the wonderful Christopher Plummer). And interesting enough as after decades of marriage Oliver's father finally came out of the closet before his death to terminal cancer and told the world that he was gay. After 45 years of being married at age 75 Hal comes out of the closet, I guess it shows in life it's never to late to discover or show your own true feelings. Really humans can be so transformed.

Director Mike Mills showcases the story of this picture mostly thru flashback as Oliver has memories of the times with his father Hal, and in an interesting subplot Oliver begins a love and intimate relationship with a free spirited French actress Anna(Melanie Laurent), and it's here that Oliver learns a lot about life and love as he tries to connect the times with memories of his father's secret love life. Even though different this promotes Oliver to open himself up to the hope of true love with Anna. Like any love story it shows that life and love is complex with ups and downs. And the film is blended with humor and sex appeal. Most of all it proves that being one's self and true discovery is never to late, and it's only right to give love a chance be true to yourself for happiness. "Beginners" is one film that's emotional and touching it can start your heart feeling some tender love and gentle comfort.