Christopher Plummer, Ewan McGregor and Mélanie Laurent Star in Personal Story of Coming Out and Starting Over

The 54th San Francisco International Film Festival (April 21–May 5) will open with Beginners (USA 2010), writer/director Mike Mills’ deeply personal and universal contemplation of chances and choices in life and love, which spotlights beautiful portrayals by Ewan McGregor, Christopher Plummer, and Mélanie Laurent. Beginners will screen 7:00 pm, Thursday, April 21 at the historic Castro Theatre followed by the Opening Night party, 9:30 pm at San Francisco's elegant and contemporary art gallery, Terra.  Mike Mills and Ewan McGregor are expected to attend and participate in a post-screening Q&A.

From writer/director Mike Mills (Thumbsucker) comes a comedy/drama about how deeply funny and transformative life can be, even in its most serious moments. Beginners imaginatively explores the hilarity, confusion and surprises of love through the evolving consciousness of Oliver (Golden Globe Award nominee Ewan McGregor). Oliver meets the irreverent and unpredictable Anna (Mélanie Laurent of Inglourious Basterds) only months after his father Hal (Academy Award nominee Christopher Plummer) has passed away. This new love floods Oliver with memories of his father who, following 44 years of marriage, came out of the closet at age 75 to live a full, energized and wonderfully tumultuous gay life. The upheavals of Hal’s new honesty, by turns funny and moving, brought father and son far closer than ever before. Now Oliver endeavors to love Anna with all the bravery, humor and hope that his father taught him. Focus Features will open Beginners theatrically in San Francisco and other cities in early June.

“Beginners has a playfully inventive sense of style, grounded by the film’s emotional honesty,” said Rachel Rosen, director of programming of the San Francisco Film Society. “This charming and humane glimpse into the thorny nature of contemporary relationships is a fantastic way to launch the International’s 15-day cinematic exploration of contemporary global society.”

The Opening Night celebration continues at Terra Gallery (511 Harrison Street) at 9:30 pm with a party featuring live music, cool cocktails and international culinary delights.

Admission for the Opening Night film and party is $75 for San Francisco Film Society members and $90 for the general public; VIP tickets are $125 for members and $150 general; Festival Premier Package members only, $165. For tickets and information visit sffs.org/tickets. Box office opens March 8 for members and March 30 for the general public.

SFIFF54 Opening Night is sponsored by Grolsch, a product of SABMiller.