Garden State (2004)
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A depressed young man returns to his hometown following his mother's death and begins to navigate his complicated relationship with his father and his own emotions.
The story
Struggling actor Andrew Largeman wakes up from a dream to a message from his father informing him that his mother has died. He leaves Los Angeles to return to his hometown in New Jersey for the funeral. While there, he reconnects with old friends and attends a party where he remains emotionally detached despite using substances. The following day, he visits a doctor for persistent headaches and meets a young woman named Sam in the waiting room. After learning about his father's role in his heavy medication history, Andrew begins to spend more time with Sam, exploring his feelings and his past.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
After returning to New Jersey for his mother's funeral, Andrew Largeman reconnects with old friends Mark and Dave. While at a party with them and a wealthy friend named Jesse, Andrew remains emotionally numb. He visits a neurologist where he learns his father, a psychiatrist, has kept him on heavy mood stabilizers since age 10 to 'curb' his anger. Andrew meets Sam, a compulsive liar with epilepsy, and they begin spending time together. During these interactions, Andrew reveals he pushed his mother, leaving her paraplegic, and admits his feelings for Sam. After a symbolic moment in a quarry where they discuss the importance of family, Andrew finds his mother's favorite pendant (stolen by Mark) and has a breakthrough conversation with his father. He admits he was not to blame for his mother's accident and decides to live without medication. Although he initially plans to leave Sam, he returns to her at the airport, acknowledging she changed his life, and they share a kiss.
- Original title
- Large's Ark
- First release year
- 2004
- Runtime (minutes)
- 102
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Zach Braff
- Writers
- Zach Braff · writer; Zach Braff · director
- Cast and characters
- Zach Braff · Andrew Largeman; Natalie Portman · Samantha "Sam"; Peter Sarsgaard · Mark; Ian Holm · Gideon Largeman; Jean Smart · Carol; Armando Riesco · Jesse; Jackie Hoffman · Sylvia Largeman; Method Man · Diego
- Genres
- romantic comedy; drama
- Themes
- love; awakening; taking action; puberty of the mind; depression; dysfunctional families
- Tone and mood
- romantic; melancholic; unconventional
- Premise and plot tags
- coming-of-age; autobiographical; independent; medication; epilepsy
- Source material / true-story basis
- Braff based the film on his real life experiences.
- Content notes
- epilepsy
- Reception
- The film received positive reviews and was a box office success, becoming a notable indie hit through word of mouth.
- Awards and nominations
- Grammy Award · Best Compilation Soundtrack Album for a Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media · win; Best Music · Golden Trailer Awards · win; Grand Jury prize · Sundance Film Festival · 2004 · nomination; Best Soundtrack · 10th Critics' Choice Awards · nomination
- Production trivia
- The original title was intended to be Large's Ark.; The title alludes to New Jersey's nickname and Andrew Marvell's poem 'The Garden'.; The film was filmed over 25 days in April and May 2003.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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