Twentieth Century Women (2016), directed by Mike Mills

The women in question are Dorothea, a 55-year-old single mother; Abbie, a 24-year-old photographer who boards with her; and Julie, a 17-year-old neighbour. Dorothea is worried she is not doing well enough raising her 15-year-old son Jamie and, somewhat strangely, enlists the two other women to help shape him into a good man. Their influence turns out to be not quite what she envisioned and Jamie also has a few ideas of his own. This uneven film is a semi-autobiographical and somewhat self-indulgent nostalgia piece, set in 1979, from writer/director Mike Mills. The performances are good, with Greta Gerwig outstanding as vulnerable punk Abbie. Annette Bening looks older than 55, which is kind of refreshing in a Hollywood film. Conversely, Lucas Jade Zuman looks a young 15, which is problematic given some of the sexualised subject matter. Awkward use of real life stills and premature playing forward of the story are irritating directorial device. But there is something charming that particularly resonates to a #metoo audience in a young lad learning about life from women a little older than him and declaring himself a feminist.