Beginners can definitely be described as a quirky about the relationship between a father and a son.
The film follows three stories over the course of the film, which take place over different time periods. In the main story, Hal (Christopher Plummer) comes out as gay to his son Oliver (Ewan McGreggor), shortly after the death of his wife. This storyline deals with Hal finally being able to embrace his repressed homosexuality, while Oliver tries to both with both this revelation and the fact that his father is dying of cancer. The second storyline takes place in the aftermath of Hal's death as Oliver struggles to cope with his father's death, while he tries to strike up a romance with a French actress named Anna (Mélanie Laurent). The third storyline flashes back to Oliver's relationship with his mother, who was obviously unhappy with her marriage to Hal.
While an incredible quirky film (a running gag features a subtitled dog), there is definitely a deeper message behind the film. It is hinted that Hal only married Oliver's mother because it was the more socially acceptable thing to do at the time. Oliver would then use his parent's unhappy marriage as the basis of his own failed relationships.
In the end, I would have to say that Beginners was a pretty enjoyable film.
8/10
