A Celebration of the Bond Between Grown-ups and Kiddo's: C'mon C'mon Explores This Connection Deeply
Fresh spin:
Mike Mills, the creative mind behind C'mon C'mon, experienced a transformative shift when he became a father in 2014. Driven by a desire to understand this new phase of life, he decided to put pen to paper (or rather, fingers to keyboard) and explore his feelings through his art. But being an unconventional chap, he opted for a unique blend: a cinematic self-portrait hidden within a narrative family drama. The movie, much like his previous works, draws inspiration from a kaleidoscope of influences, including films, music, literature, and the vibrant culture we all find ourselves immersed in.
C'mon C'mon isn’t just another cut-and-dried family flick. It's a heartfelt ode to the complex and intricate bond shared by adults and children. The story centers around a middle-aged radio journalist, Joaquin Phoenix's Johnny, as he encounters the challenges and joys of caring for a precocious, insightful child, Woody Norman's Jesse. It's a tale that highlights the importance of treating a child's needs, concerns, and joys with the same respect one would afford an adult.
As with many of life's best (and worst) moments, Johnny and Jesse's relationship unfolds amid laughter, tears, sleepless nights, and inspiring days. Their connection, fraught with hesitation and awkwardness, blossoms into a transformative, if tentative, friendship. Together, they navigate anxieties, share what was once unspeakable, and hold each other accountable. As they grow closer, the tale expands to delve into broader themes of our interconnectedness, the obligations we owe to the future, the memories we treasure, the people who share our past, and the healing power of empathy.
Blending sharp wit and tender emotion, C'mon C'mon skillfully weaves together classic black-and-white photography, breathtaking cityscapes, raw performances, and candid interviews with real young Americans. It's a cinematic journey that pushes the envelope of Mills' artistic vision, proving to be his most daring and far-reaching story to date.
Mills' fascination with life's intricate connections:
"With C'mon C'mon, I wanted to venture into uncharted territory," shares Mills. "I aimed to capture the microcosms we all live in - intimate moments like giving a bath or having a bedtime chat - unfolding against the backdrop of our collective, larger reality." In other words, he sought to bridge the gap between our personal worlds and the grand, shared experiences that bind us all together.
As he delved deeper into the writing process, Mills found himself exploring the intricacies of the young lives of 21st-century America's children. That's when the road movie format came to mind, reminiscent of Wim Wenders' classic "Alice in the Cities." The narrative blossomed into something entirely new, featuring a child character brimming with independence, thoughts, and concerns that mirrored those of any adult.
Rooted in reality:
Johnny, the protagonist, is modeled after a contemporary radio journalist, embodying Mills’ own career. He's a man drawn to the art of listening, yet perhaps a tad lost in time. The character's occupation echoes Mills' past work, serving as a documentary producer for the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), where he worked on a project in 2014, A Mind Forever Voyaging Through Strange Seas Alone. In the film, Johnny embarks on a similar journey, traveling across various cities to speak with a diverse array of children about their dreams, fears, and hopes.
Johnny's personality shares similarities with Mills but remains distinct, imbued with his own idiosyncrasies. He's a lonely man, estranged from his family and heartbroken over the loss of his long-term relationship. His unexpected role as a caregiver forces him to confront his own emotional turmoil and open up to new possibilities for healing.
As Mills wrote, the script slowly morphed into a portrait of the bond that developed between Joaquin Phoenix and Woody Norman, the actors chosen to bring Johnny and Jesse to life. In doing so, the film became a unique blend of fiction and reality, capturing the raw, evolving connection between the two protagonists as they navigated the streets and rooms where the movie was shot.
- Mills' exploration in 'C'mon C'mon' extends beyond family-health and parenting, delving into the realms of education-and-self-development and personal-growth as he bridges the gap between personal worlds and the collective, shared experiences that bind us all.
- The movie, 'C'mon C'mon', is a testament to the intricacies of family-dynamics and relationships, portraying the transformative, if tentative, friendship between a middle-aged radio journalist and a precocious, insightful child, as they navigate their own needs, concerns, and joys with empathy and accountability.
- Apart from showcasing the vibrant culture we live in, 'C'mon C'mon' also highlights the importance of health-and-wellness, as it emphasizes the significance of treating a child's needs with the same respect as an adult's, transcending the conventional boundaries of family-flick genres.
- In 'C'mon C'mon', Mills uses a unique blend of science, art, and life's intricate connections to craft a story that tackles themes of our interconnectedness, the obligations we owe to the future, the people who share our past, and the healing power of empathy, all while drawing inspiration from a kaleidoscope of influences, including films, music, literature, and culture.
