Feelings and Honesty: C’mon C’mon

C’mon C’mon written and directed by Mike Mills is a film everyone should see, but probably won’t. This is VERY UNFORTUNATE, given that Burt Bacharach and Hal David’s 1965 song, ‘what the world needs now is love sweet love, it’s the only thing that there’s just too little of” is still very relevant. Especially for anyone entering into parenthood.
The choice of black and white motif adds poignancy by channeling our attention to the characters and their emotions rather than the various cities. Also, to see cityscapes in black and white helps remind us that memories fade, just as photos and postcards do, another bittersweet theme of the film.
The film editing was also perfection, cutting between flashbacks with the sibling’s mother to one on one scenes with the ten year old boy (played expertly by Woody Norman) and his mother (Gabby Hoffman, who is an ideal choice for a strung out but very loving mother) or his uncle (Joaquin Phoenix in a beautifully acted understated role).
The soundtrack of classical tunes with cityscapes in the background adds a Woody Allenesque grandeur to those shots, as well as the many montages of city life; New Your City diners, LA beaches, and New Orleans selpucher scenes.
The theme of the film is that children AND adults deserve to have their feelings and yet also need to respect others’ and apologize when those feelings bump and grind.
I can only wish our larger world and my smaller (my brother and I) can have the healing conversation that Joaquin and Gabby have. Love transcends chaos when you are vulnerable enough to allow it.