After signing many, many copies of his new book Drawings from the film Beginners at OCNY yesterday, Mike Mills gathered an audience at the Crosby Street Hotel cinema, where the film was screened. A deeply personal project for the artist, the film loosely recounts his father Hal’s transformation from a married and emotionally closed man to a newly-outed gay and impassioned older gentleman. Mike is mirrored in the character of Oliver (played by Ewan McGregor), who stands back in amazement as his father becomes liberated, and ultimately succumbs to cancer. The film's heroine, Mélanie Laurent, stopped by the store and the screening.

This is a story about love and life. But it’s better than the best, as it’s through the eyes of Mike and holds so much of his personality in little things, like the repeated element of fireworks (Mike published his illustrated book Fireworks in 2008), or the fact that Oliver is an obsessive illustrator. It's completely, utterly, Mike, and fans and others should hop, skip, or jump to theaters on June 3rd!

Photos by Matthew Kelly


FILED UNDER: Mike Mills , Beginners , books , film , book signing , ocny , new york