BEGINNERS

Filmmaker Mike Mills’s signature introspection and exploration of the family unit are perhaps never more fully realized than in his film Beginners. Following the death of his father, Hal, (Christopher Plummer), Oliver Fields (Ewan McGregor) must navigate the unpredictability of grief, a blossoming new love and the memories of Hal’s journey of self-discovery after coming out at the age of 75. Semi-autobiographical (Hal is based on Mills’s own father), the charming and vulnerable dramedy struck a chord in audiences and critics alike, earning Plummer an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. “Beginners felt so fresh when I saw it. It’s a movie that can change your life completely,” shares Galerie curator Christos Nikou.

Join Bright Wall/Dark Room’s Veronica Fitzpatrick and Chad Perman in honoring the freshness and deep impression left by this film. What about it has stayed with you?