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GARDEN STATE
Andrew Largeman (Zach Braff), goes through life as a struggling waiter. He lives an emotionless life because he has been medicated for years by his psychiatrist father (Ian Holm), following a tragic childhood event.
Andrew and his parents are estranged on every level. When Andrew learns that his mother has died, he returns to New Jersey for the funeral. Afterward, he joins friends from high school, spending the day in a fog of foul language, drugs, girls and alcohol.
The next day Andrew goes to the neurologist because of headaches. Along the way he meets Sam (Natalie Portman), a young woman who tries to hide the fact that she has epilepsy.
Andrew disposes of his medicines, tries to reconnect with his father and explores a relationship with Sam. His scummy friend Mark (Peter Sarsgaard) leads Andrew and Sam on an odd journey where Andrew learns that life is worth living.
Garden is not, technically, an independent movie. But this small film examines the significance of life for young adults who are alienated from family and have not connected to either society or institutionalized religion as a source for transcendent meaning or authentic spirituality. They have to find it in each other and the world around them.
Zach Braff, who plays Dr. Dorian in the NBC series Scrubs, is the star, director and writer of this film. Crude language, a sexual encounter, drug use themes of life, love, truth, empathy, reconciliation and, ultimately, joy make this worthwhile viewing.
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