20th Century Women (2016) is a gentle, glowing portrait of connection, identity, and the unpredictable dance of growing up. Set in late-1970s California, the film follows Dorothea Fields, a middle-aged single mother who feels her grasp on her teenage son slipping through her fingers. Her home, full of drifting ideas and creative souls, becomes a place where guidance is shared rather than imposed.

Dorothea’s decision to bring two younger women into Jamie’s upbringing forms the heart of the story. Their presence creates a swirl of perspective—feminist thought, emotional intuition, and the restless energy of youth. Together, they shape Jamie’s world in ways that feel spontaneous yet deeply personal, like conversations that echo long after the room grows quiet.

Annette Bening delivers a beautifully layered performance, giving Dorothea a warmth that flickers between strength and vulnerability. Each character carries their own unresolved questions, and the house becomes a canvas where their lives, uncertainties, and hopes brush up against one another. The film moves with a soft, reflective rhythm that mirrors the way people influence each other in subtle, lasting ways.