Beginners

Written and directed by Mike Mills (Thumbsucker), Beginners is an unusual family story starring Ewan McGregor (The Ghost Writer, Black Hawk Down), Christopher Plumber (Syriana, The Insider) and Mélanie Laurent (Inglorious Basterds).

When his wife of 45 years passes away, 75-year-old Hal (Plumber) astounds his son Oliver (McGregor) and friends by coming out of the closet and changing his lifestyle by 180 degrees. Even once he's diagnosed with terminal cancer, Hal continues to live each moment to the fullest, confusing and inspiring his son at the same time. Oliver, in turn, is beginning a new relationship with Anna (Laurent), whose unpredictable approach is equally confusing and inspiring. At the centre of the two parallel stories, Oliver has to come to terms with his past, the present and an uncertain future.

Beginners developed out of the story of Mills's own father coming out at age 75. The common thread behind the various storylines (Hal's present life, Oliver's new relationship, and Oliver's childhood memories of a rather dysfunctional family life) is the striving for honesty, authenticity, understanding and acceptance: universal values presented in a rather different kind of way. The performances all round are excellent. (Osanna Vaughn)

Attack the Block (2011)

Brautalarm (Bridesmaids) (2011)

Bullhead (Rundskop) (2011)

Cheyenne - This Must Be the Place (This Must Be the Place) (2011)

Dame, König, As, Spion (Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy) (2011)

Das Blaue vom Himmel (2011)

Der Fall Chodorkowski (Khodorkovsky) (2011)

Der Gott des Gemetzels (Carnage) (2011)

Die Unschtbare (2011)

Freunde mit gewissen Vorzügen (Friends with Benefits) (2011)

Fünf Freunde (2012)

Gerhard Richter Painting (2011)

Gregs Tagebuch 2: Gibt's Probleme? (Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules) (2011)

Halt auf freier Strecke (Stopped on Track) (2011)

Hop - Osterhase oder Superstar? (HOP) (2011)

Hugo Cabret (Hugo) (2011)

Metropolis (2011)

Nader und Simin - Eine Trennung (A Separation, Jodaeiye Nader az Simin) (2011)

The Help (2011)

The Help (2011)

The Ides of March - Tage des Verrats (The Ides of March) (2011)

The Tree of Life (2011)

Unknown Identity (Unknown) (2011)

X-Men: Erste Entscheidung (X-Men: First Class) (2011)

Brautalarm (Bridesmaids) (2011)

Harry Potter und die Heiligtümer des Todes - Teil 2 (Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2) (2011)

Win Win (2011)

Would you like to receive a list of all the current month's film releases -- with links to reviews by the KinoCritics -- delivered right into your email box? If so, click here to subscribe to the KinoCritics Newsletter. We'll email it to your inbox at the beginning of every month.

	Attack the Block (2011)
	Brautalarm (Bridesmaids) (2011)
	Bullhead (Rundskop) (2011)
	Cheyenne - This Must Be the Place (This Must Be the Place) (2011)
	Dame, König, As, Spion (Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy) (2011)
	Das Blaue vom Himmel (2011)
	Der Fall Chodorkowski (Khodorkovsky) (2011)
	Der Gott des Gemetzels (Carnage) (2011)
	Die Unschtbare (2011)
	Freunde mit gewissen Vorzügen (Friends with Benefits) (2011)
	Fünf Freunde (2012)
	Gerhard Richter Painting (2011)
	Gregs Tagebuch 2: Gibt's Probleme? (Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules) (2011)
	Halt auf freier Strecke (Stopped on Track) (2011)
	Hop - Osterhase oder Superstar? (HOP) (2011)
	Hugo Cabret (Hugo) (2011)
	Metropolis (2011)
	Nader und Simin - Eine Trennung (A Separation, Jodaeiye Nader az Simin) (2011)
	The Help (2011)
	The Help (2011)
	The Ides of March - Tage des Verrats (The Ides of March) (2011)
	The Tree of Life (2011)
	Unknown Identity (Unknown) (2011)
	X-Men: Erste Entscheidung (X-Men: First Class) (2011)
	Brautalarm (Bridesmaids) (2011)
	Harry Potter und die Heiligtümer des Todes - Teil 2 (Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2) (2011)
	Win Win (2011)