NYFF: How Bogart, Fellini, and Ginger Rogers inspired "20th Century Women"
Thursday, October 13, 2016 at 1:00PM
As part of NYFF Directors’ Dialogue series, 20th Century Women’s Mike Mills was interviewed by artistic director, Kent Jones. Here are excerpts from the conversation as reported by Murtada.
Bening, Mills and Elle Faning at NYFF premiere
Dorothea is Humphrey Bogart
Mills based the main character in 20th Century Women - Dorothea played by Annette Bening - on his memories of his mother. She used to always tell him “In my next life I’ll be married to Bogart”, so while writing the movie Mills would ask himself what would Bogart say whenever he was stuck. To him Dorothea was like many of the characters Bogart played; underdogs who don't win, fail valiantly, make great jokes along the way and always help the weakest person in the room.
Ginger Rogers in Stage Door
Dorothea was also inspired by the character Ginger Rogers played in 1937’s Stage Door. She is as subversive, wisecracking and knows her way with a witty putdown as Rogers’ Jean Maitland.
Working with Bening
Mills believes Bening was the only actor who could play Dorothea. He talked about how she’s exactly the right age, looks beautifully natural which is rare in actresses of her age and calibre. She also reminded him of his mother because, while professional, she has no interest in pleasing anyone, even her director. She would listen to his stories but kept her process private, so he had to learn to give her space. He loved what she delivered because she continously surprised him. While she worked out the character’s psychology, Bening did not work out the beats of every scene, opting for freedom and intuition.
Mills movies are personal and based on his memories, in addition to Bening, Christopher Plummer played a character based on his father in Beginners (2010). So to avoid being precious he hands full authorship of the character to the actors or as he put it “give them the keys to the car”.
Federico Fellini
Mills revealed that 20th Century Women owes a big debt is Fellini’s Amarcord (1973). They both have multiple narrators and are love letters from their authors’ to where they grew up.
20th Century Women was the Centerpiece selection at NYFF and will be released on Christmas Day by A24.
Reader Comments (9)
I hope she wins the Oscar.
It looks like this years line up could be the best ever for Best Actress anyone know the benchmark years for Actress.
It will be a hard campaign. She's great, but the role doesn't present the obvious cues to Oscar voters.
Paul, she managed a nomination for Being Julia and The Kids Are All Right. And, those were in very competitive years. Definitely not the type of performances that shout give me an Oscar. But, certainly say I'm worthy of consideration and inclusion.
no she is over rated not a fan sorry guys
just like J MOORE
AL are you sure your on the right blog 'cos those last 2 sentences I just don't understand.
@ MARKGORDON
Every line-up has (at least) one weak to weak-ish link, but this s still the all-time one for me:
Anne Baxter, All About Eve
Bette Davis, All About Eve
Judy Holliday, Born Yesterday
Eleanor Parker, Caged
Gloria Swanson, Sunset Blvd
@ /3rtful
Have you seen this yet? It's different than the ones you cited. Doesn't have the leading lady feel nor the high drama. It's excellent character work, as I've said elsewhere, one of my favorite performances from her.
mmmmm yes after rearch and i am patchy pre 70's My picks would be 62,74,87,90,93,95,0610,15