Paul Thomas Anderson returned to the big screen in 2021 with his seemingly most divisive, and for some his most controversial film, Licorice Pizza. Following 25-year-old Alana and 15-year-old Gary, as their relationship grows over one year in the San Fernando Valley, the film has often been criticized for its portrayal of this age-gap relationship. While this remains an important part of the discourse on the film, it is clear this aspect of the film is intentional for more reasons than just controversy. With a look into Alana and Gary, both similar and wildly different characters, and how they exist in the world of business and money, both their age and gender gaps seems to be working to say something more pronounced about women in the workplace. Women who have ambition and talent, but seem to be stopped at every step of the way by the older, more powerful men in charge.

Alana is a young woman who wants to make a name for herself. Wanting to leave her home, to become something more than her sisters have, to become successful both monetarily and in terms of her reputation. She wants to have an impact on the world. Gary is the same. As a young child actor, he loves to see himself on the big screen, entertaining those who come watch his films. He wants to have an impact on those around him, and like Alana, wants to leave behind more than just his memory with those he cares about. But there is a clear and stark different between these two, one that not only comes from their difference in age. Gary is continually successful in seemingly every aspect of his life. Gary wants to start a water bed business? He and his friends end up selling water beds to almost everyone in Southern California, including Jon Peters himself. Gary wants to get a TV audition? He is able to secure auditions for both himself and Alana. Gary wants to start a pinball arcade? Opening night is a smash hit.

Similarly, Alana works her way through multiple many jobs and endeavours. An employee at a photo centre for school portraits, an actress in actor Jack Holden’s latest film, a sales woman for Gary’s waterbed business, a volunteer staffer for city councilman Joel Wachs. At every stage of the film, Alana is trying something new. And at every stage of the film, she is under the employment and direction of a man older and more powerful than her, who seems to take advantage of her because of her status as a young woman. The photographer, who grabs her butt in the school as she works for him as an assistant. Actor Jack Holden, who cares more about his reputation as a stunt actor and having a young woman on his arm than he does about her career or safety. Film exec. Jon Peters, who does more than hit on her when she is hired to personally install his waterbed. Councilman Joel Wachs, using Alana as a fake girlfriend for his partner to hide his sexuality from the voters.

But then there is Gary. Just as successful as these other men, able to succeed in almost everything he sets his mind to. But he is vastly different. His youth, his naivety to the evil’s of the world, and his innocence, set him apart from these older, grown men. The men who take advantage of Alana day after day, for their own personal gain, it seems like it is only Gary, with his ambition and nothing more, that Alana is attracted to. We see Gary in these older men. We see his ambition, his power, his hard work and talent. Alana also sees these other, older men in Gary, but unlike these other men, this version of Gary exists only in his future. Exhibiting all the good traits, without the corruption of age Gary is still innocent to the truths of the world around him. The power he holds and what he can do with it. Maybe Gary is destined to become just like them. As he attends auditions and is slowly phased out of working as a child actor, maybe he, too, will be corrupted by his own greed and power over others. But for now, Alana cannot help but fail to see what Gary may soon become, privileging the present Gary, and all his naivety towards the true evils and corruption the world has in store.

Licorice Pizza (2021) is available to stream on Prime Video in Canada.