American director Mike Mills’ newest film, C’mon C’mon, was released Nov. 26, 2021 and easily met my high expectations.
C’mon C’mon opens with its protagonist, Johnny, at work. Played by Joaquin Phoenix, Johnny is a documentary filmmaker interviewing children across the United States about their ideas on the future. The children express frustration with the adults in their lives as well as anxiety about climate change, growing social and political divide in the country and other concerns for what lies ahead. The children’s responses are surprisingly articulate, many understanding the gravity of their personal lives and perils of the world while holding optimism for the future.
Johnny’s compassion for kids extends to his nine-year-old nephew Jesse, played by Woody Norman, who simultaneously portrays the souls of a manic child and a spiritually lost, level-headed 40-year-old. Jesse’s two personality traits fight for dominance in a tremendous performance by Norman, who I’m sure we’ll be seeing more of as the 11-year-old grows into his acting career.
As Jesse’s father struggles with bipolar disorder, Jesse is left in the temporary care of Johnny, who is confronted with the messy and complex reality of parenthood. Instead of being a one-note story on parenthood, the film explores common themes of relationships such as companionship and dysfunction, that simply manifest differently in parent-child bonds. Their temporary closeness forces the pair to directly confront their frustrations but also fosters an emotionally intimate relationship that creates many uplifting moments. Despite the rifts, their unconditional love for each other shines through.
Johnny, alongside the audience, comes to realize that Jesse is in tune with the world as much as himself. Despite being a child, he also experiences intense emotions but just doesn’t know what to do with them yet. I thoroughly enjoyed watching this painful vulnerability in Jesse and Johnny’s interactions, cringing at and empathizing with their reactions to one another. It prompted me to evaluate and reconsider my own relationships, particularly my familial ones. Instead of being blinded by surface level disagreements with parents and siblings, I now acknowledge that they are rudimentary challenges that come with caring for someone deeply.
Throughout the film, Johnny discovers new sides of himself while caring for his nephew. Meanwhile, Jesse is just discovering those initial traits that help build a person’s identity. It’s a heartwarming sight and instantly transports viewers back to the naivety of childhood.
Mills’ films are likely familiar if you’re enthralled by sensitive and quiet slice-of-life stories or obsessed with movies by film company A24. After watching Mills’ second feature, 20th Century Women, a few years ago, I’ve been unable to stop professing my love for his films. His introspective and compassionate storytelling now speaks deeply to me.
In C’mon C’mon, Mills moves away from his trademark use of still images and voiceovers to portray the inner monologues of his characters. Instead, he incorporates quotes from the literature the film’s characters are consuming. Although I prefer his previous style, many heartfelt moments are created with this new approach. Johnny’s reading of a passage from Star Child by Claire A. Nivola to Jesse creates one of my favourite scenes of the movie. In it, Johnny reckons with the amazing and fleeting nature of life that young Jesse is unable to fully grasp.
One of the final lines of the passage perfectly encapsulates my tender feelings as the film comes to an end: “Over the years, you will try to make sense of that happy, sad, full, empty, always shifting life you’re in.”
I left the theatre with a sense of optimism, realizing that much beauty can be found in cherishing the perplexing and turbulent essence of human life. Although the film can be slow and seemingly uneventful at times, this hasn’t stopped me from recommending it to my action movie-oriented friends.
Mills succeeds in crafting a truly impactful film that reminds us of the confusing, terrible and amazing nature of living. With the pain and uncertainty of what lies ahead, Mills proves that we can still find ways to keep going and will be grateful that we did.
Featured image provided by A24.
