Broken Flowers (2005)

As the extremely withdrawn Don Johnston is dumped by his latest woman, he receives an anonymous letter from a former lover informing him that he has a son who may be looking for him. A freelance sleuth neighbor moves Don to embark on a cross-country search for his old flames in search of answers.

Director:

Jim Jarmusch

Writers:

Jim Jarmusch, Bill Raden (inspired by an idea from)

Stars:

Bill Murray, Jessica Lange, Sharon Stone

5 wins & 12 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Bill Murray	...	Don Johnston
Julie Delpy	...	Sherry
Heather Simms	...	Mona (as Heather Alicia Simms)
Brea Frazier	...	Rita
Jarry Fall	...	Winston and Mona's Kid (as Jarry)
Korka Fall	...	Winston and Mona's Kid
Saul Holland	...	Winston and Mona's Kid (as Saul)
Zakira Holland	...	Winston and Mona's Kid
Niles Lee Wilson	...	Winston and Mona's Kid
Jeffrey Wright	...	Winston
Meredith Patterson	...	Flight Attendant
Jennifer Rapp	...	Girl on Bus
Nicole Abisinio	...	Girl on Bus
Ryan Donowho	...	Young Man on Bus
Alexis Dziena	...	Lolita

Storyline

The resolutely single Don Johnston has just been dumped by his latest lover, Sherry. Don resigns himself to being alone yet again and left to his own devices. Instead, he is compelled to reflect on his past when he receives by mail a mysterious pink letter. It is from an anonymous former lover and informs him that he has a 19-year-old son who may now be looking for his father. Don is urged to investigate this "mystery" by his closest friend and neighbor, Winston, an amateur sleuth and family man. Hesitant to travel at all, Don nonetheless embarks on a cross-country trek in search of clues from four former flames. Unannounced visits to each of these unique women hold new surprises for Don as he haphazardly confronts both his past and, consequently, his present.

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Plot Keywords:

search | letter | former lover | driving car | casual sex | 

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Taglines:

Sometimes life brings some strange surprises.

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Mystery | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language, some graphic nudity and brief drug use

Details

Country:

USA France

Language:

English

Release Date:

26 August 2005 (USA)

Also Known As:

Dead Flowers

Filming Locations:

Riverdale, Morris County, New York, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$10,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$780,408, 7 August 2005, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$13,744,960

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$45,725,990

Company Credits

Production Co:

Focus Features, Five Roses, Bac Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

106 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Jim Jarmusch asked each of the four female leads to write a version of the pink letter from the point of view of their respective characters. He used a combination of those four letters in the film.

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Goofs

The rear cover or Dr.Carmen Markowski's book "Animal Vernacular" has the words "The third book by Dr. Carmen Markowski and this ones delves into...."

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Quotes

[first lines]
Sherry: I pretty much have all my stuff.
[picks up mail]
Sherry: Looks like you got a love letter from one of your other girlfriends.

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Crazy Credits

Unusually, bit part players with no spoken lines in this movie are listed in the credits. Normally only speaking parts are listed.

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Connections

References Point Blank (1967)

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Soundtracks

Yekermo Sew
Written by Mulatu Astatke
Performed by Mulatu Astatke
Courtesy of Amha Records/Buda Musique (France)

User Reviews

JARMISH+MURRAY=Brilliance

I can't say I'm a Jim Jarmish fan. However, this collaboration with Bill Murray brought the best out of both of them. Bill is just amazing anyway. His acting draws the viewer in to his world. The saying " less is more" Murray epitomizes. Jarmish plays with the same idea and allows silence to act in this film. The mood the stark film quality and story give all the actors room to breath. Every scene is an evolution into unfolding feeling.

Basically, this film seemed written for Murray's effortlessness acting style. Yet Murray's character is played at first with almost totally non-vulnerability… you want him to open up. But all the time you see glimmers of him doing just that and then you even appreciate his stuck-ness.

All the other actors are wonderful as well. I have seen Sharon Stone's acting as someone trying to hard, but people, she was just crazy and alive in her role in this film. She changed my mind. Jessica Lange's performance is just perfect. What a woman. All in all I must give this film 2 thumbs up and my big toes are saluting it as well. Funny, thoughtful and very entertaining. Bravo.