The Film
The film opens in 2003 when we see Oliver clearing
out his father’s belongings after his death and taking
responsibility for his dog, a very cute Jack Russell called Arthur,
who is comically given a voice through subtitles. In this
timeframe, Oliver falls in love with Anna, a French actress, whom
he meets at a fancy dress party a few months after being bereaved
and when he is still suffering significant grief. A clue as to the
psychological credentials of the film is given in this comical
scene when Oliver chooses to dress up as Freud and finds himself
analysing other partygoers, one of whom is Anna. It is slowly
revealed that both have struggled to commit to intimate
relationships in their past, and that their shared sadness seems to
be the spark that fuels their attraction. From this beginning, the
film tells two different back stories. The first involves the young
Oliver observing the somewhat distant, cold relationship between
his parents as he repeatedly seeks answers to his question “ Is
everything alright”. The only early parental relationship that we
see is with his mother as he reflects on her unfulfilled life and
her embittered sadness, in the light of what he now knows about his
father’s sexuality.
The second flashback scenes tell the story of
Oliver and his father after Hal has ‘come out’ as gay and begun a
relationship with a much younger man, Andy. Hal begins this four
year period with renewed vigour and a sense that it is never too
late to get it right, before the discovery is made that he has lung
cancer. This forces an even greater closeness to develop between
father and son as Oliver becomes increasingly involved in caring
for Hal. Hal insists on hiding his diagnosis from his lover, Andy,
and his new gay friends, against the advice of Oliver who is
continually seeking honesty and truthfulness. In essence this is a
major theme of the film, as every character searches for their true
self. The question that is repeatedly raised is what is real,
especially where love is concerned. Oliver’s experience of seeing
his father happy and in love with Andy suggests to him that success
in an intimate relationship is possible and this knowledge begins
to inform his exploration of love in the scenes with
Anna.
Relevance to the field of Mental Health
This film presents several issues of great importance that are
relevant to doctors in general, and to mental health practitioners
in particular. It highlights at its centre the important topic of
sexual activity in older adults, often neglected by younger
professionals in particular, and adds to that the additional issue
of repressed sexual identity that emerges later in life. A viewing
of Beginners would offer a good platform to discuss these
topics alongside a reading of some suitable articles or books. One
of the few studies of older lesbian and gay men undertaken in the
UK, was published in the journal Diversity in Health and Care in
October 2011(Volume 8, Number 3) and is called Hidden lives:
the importance of recognising the needs and experiences of older
lesbians and gay men within healthcare practice, byFenge &
Hicks (abstract),
in which one of the key themes is a focus on the issue of ‘coming
out’. An interesting study published in the BMJ in 2010 entitled
Sex, health, and
years of sexually active life gained due to good health: evidence
from two US population based cross sectional surveys of
ageingby Lindau and Gavrilova at University of
Chicago examines the relation between health and several dimensions
of sexuality in middle and older age adults. For more extensive
coverage of the topic, including a chapter about the older LGBT
population in America, I would suggest a recently published book,
entitled Sexuality and Aging: Clinical Perspectives by
psychologist Jennifer Hillman, which was recently published in
2012. A section of the book is available to read at
Google books.
Beginners also explores sadness in a
number of the characters and gives an exquisite portrait of grief,
as Oliver looses Hal without really having had a long enough time
to get to know him after he has come out. The frustration for
Oliver at having insufficient time to process the whole meaning of
his parent’s marriage, before Hal’s death, is brilliantly captured.
In interviews with the director Mike Mills, he makes clear that his
reasons for making Beginners were grounded in his need to
continue processing his own personal experience of his father in
the last years of his life through the characters of Hal and
Oliver.
I would highly recommend this film for its
authenticity in presenting such sensitive issues of older age and
sexuality in a truthful and unsentimental manner. All of the acting
is superb and is certainly the reason that the film, and
Christopher Plummer in particular, received so many awards. Oh yes,
and Arthur the dog is unforgettable!
• More information about Beginners can be
found at IMDB, along
with a short trailer.
• Beginners is available to buy at
amazon.co.uk.
• Minds on Film is written by consultant
psychiatrist, Dr Joyce Almeida
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