Andrew returns to his hometown for his mother’s funeral, a journey that reconnects him with old friends. The trip coincides with his decision to stop taking his powerful antidepressants. A chance meeting with Sam—a girl also struggling with various maladies—opens up the possibility of rekindling emotional connections, confronting his psychologist father, and perhaps beginning a new life.
Score
The Shins basically wrote the soundtrack to 2004 sadness.
Acting
Natalie Portman invents the Manic Pixie Dream Girl, then transcends it.
Cinematography
Suburbia never looked this dreamlike and depressing simultaneously.
Director
Zach Braff
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
This film single-handedly launched the 'Manic Pixie Dream Girl' archetype that dominated indie cinema for a decade.
The 'infinite abyss' quarry scene was filmed at an actual abandoned quarry in New Jersey that locals illegally swam in.
US
