Garden State, which is directed by Zach Braff, is the story of Andrew Largeman, a twenty-something guy who has been heavily medicated for the greater part of his life who has to return to his hometown to deal with the recent death of his paraplegic mother. Garden State is one of my favorite movies because it deals with many different themes including death, family dynamics, and relationship issues. This movie was released in a limited capacity in 2004, but has gained quite the following since its release on DVD. The story is relatable to many people who have problems with their family or with relationships.
One of the big issues in this film is the fact that our main character, Andrew Largeman, is halting the use of his medication for depression while returning home for his mother’s funeral. Andrew was prescribed this medication when he was still a child because it was thought that he was the cause for his mother’s paralysis from the waist down. Andrew was put on the medication by his father to stabilize his mood and then sent away to a boarding school. Andrew continued to use this medication into his adult life until the point his mother died. Once he stops taking all of his medication, he starts to breaking away from his shell of a life and actually starts living. He meets a girl named Samantha, who is played by the wonderful Natalie Portman, who causes him to start doing things he has never really done before. Andrew had been so numb from all of the medications that he had never really had a chance to deal with all of these emotions that had been conjuring inside of him. In a very moving scene near the end of the movie, he has a talk with his father about the death of his mother and how he feels about the whole situation. Andrew gets to let out all of the emotions he never got to let out when his mother had first been injured. This is a very cathartic experience for Andrew and it allows him to move on to a productive life that he had been denying himself before. One thing the audience can take away from this plot point in the movie is the fact that you should not bottle up your emotions. It is important to communicate with others about the issues that weigh on your soul. You cannot medicate your problems away because they will always end up surfacing at some point down the road and it might be at a time you are not prepared to deal with the issue. Communication is the key to this movie because Andrew could not make a better life for himself until he had talked things out with his father and received closure. This is just one of many instances that communication is used as a tool of empowerment in this movie. Communication can help heal things within yourself as well as start new journeys with other people.
At the beginning of the movie, Andrew Largeman is a single man basically sleepwalking through his dismal life in California. While at home in New Jersey, Andrew goes to see a specialist about his headaches and going off his medication, at which point he meets Samantha in the waiting room. Samantha is a loveable girl who has a penchant for lying, but is good willed. Andrew and Samantha start forming a wonderful friendship and relationship. Samantha is the person that Andrew first confides his deepest and most secret thoughts to. Andrew is finally himself for the first time in his adult life and he has a person that he can share that experience with. Samantha allows him to blossom into a normal person by just giving him someone he connect with and feel comfortable around. Andrew has never had this in his life because he has always just been in a zombie state due to his medication. This aspect of the movie is another thing the audience can use as equipment for living. It is not only important to have the capacity to communicate with others as discussed above. It is important to have someone in your life with which you are comfortable talking about your personal problems. You cannot be sure exactly how much weight you are carrying around with you until you share what you are carrying around with another person. You could be surprised at how much lighter you feel after knowing that someone else is aware of what you are going through and is willing to help you through it.
At the end of the movie, Andrew is about to board a plane to head back home where he can straighten up his life and prepare for a new life with Samantha. He needs to put his relationship with Samantha on hold where he can everything in his life together. He thinks it would not be fair to get into anything too serious with her when he is still so screwed up. Samantha starts objecting to this idea because she does not want Andrew to leave. She believes that any changes that need to be made, they can handle together. Andrew believes he is doing the right thing so he boards the plane. While on the plane, he come the realization that Samantha is right and he does not want to spend another moment of his living in his numb world. He wants to experience every moment from that point on with this amazing lady that has changed his life in dramatic fashion. Andrew and Samantha have a touching reunion with the movie leaving their fate up to interpretation. Viewers could watch this and realize that if they have a significant other, they should make sure both of their views are taken into consideration. A relationship can only last if the couple can communicate effectively.
Garden State changed my life the first time I watched it and it still never fails to inspire me in some way. Zach Braff wrote and directed a movie that shows the importance of communication within the context of a family as well as a relationship. You can watch this movie to learn how to apply some of these things to your own life, or you can watch it just because it is a wonderful movie.
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