Humboldt County (2008)

A disillusioned medical student is stranded for a summer in a remote community of counterculture pot farmers, the last place in the world he imagined he would discover himself.

Directors:

Darren Grodsky, Danny Jacobs

Writers:

Darren Grodsky, Danny Jacobs

Stars:

Jeremy Strong, Fairuza Balk, Peter Bogdanovich

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jeremy Strong	...	Peter
Fairuza Balk	...	Bogart
Peter Bogdanovich	...	Professor Hadley
Vicky Monroe	...	Sondra
Tarek Zohdy	...	Medical Student
Lawrence Bridges	...	Man in Bathroom
John Murdock	...	Jazz Club Bassist
Lenny Pettinelli	...	Jazz Club Pianist
B. Swislo	...	Jazz Club Drummer
Brad Dourif	...	Jack
Frances Conroy	...	Rosie
Madison Davenport	...	Charity
Chris Messina	...	Max
Geoffrey Robinson	...	Earl (as Geoffrey 'Lizard' Robinson)
Darren Grodsky	...	Bob

Storyline

Peter is burned out: finishing med school at UCLA, failing the bedside manner class his father teaches, no sleep in days. He spends the night with Bogart, a woman he's just met, and the next day, sleepily gets in her car. He wakes up in Arcata, where Bogart's foster family lives in the woods: Max, his daughter, mom, and step dad. They grow marijuana for their own consumption, except for Max, who has planted six hidden patches for one big score. Bogart hates pot farming - feds are on constant patrol - so she splits, leaving Peter to depend on Max for a ride to the bus. A day stretches into two, and Peter puts off leaving. A reckoning with his dad is inevitable: is Peter's rebirth possible?

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Plot Keywords:

catching a bus | barbeque | cremains | driving a car over a cliff | ketchup | 

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Taglines:

Where the grass is greener

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for drug content and language throughout

Did You Know?

Quotes

[first lines]
Bogart: [in doctor's office] When I came home from the clinic everyone was asleep. Normally they'd hear my truck. We live in the middle of nowhere, so... I parked it about a half a mile down the road and I walked home, but my boyfriend heard. He hears everything. When he came in to see what was wrong, I just tried to pretend to be asleep. But I couldn't hold it in, and I started to cry.
Peter: Go on...
Bogart: Sorry. I was balling my eyes out, and uh, he held me. And I wished... I wished I hadn't done it. I...
[...]

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Soundtracks

Welcome Home
Performed by Radical Face
Written by Ben Cooper
From the album Ghost
Published by Roy Berry Works At Planet (ASCAP)
© 2007 Morr Music

User Reviews

Well done...

This film offered some fascinating character studies. The movie was beautifully shot. I thought the movie held up well for the first three quarters, but some plot turns in the last quarter struck me as being cheats. Nonetheless, the movie delicately handles the complexities of people who have chosen to leave behind their everyday existences in the "straight" world and exile themselves into the "wilderness" of Northern California. The film does a great job of examining the costs of reclusiveness with poignancy and dignity. While regret is a theme that is a constant in this film, self-examination and re-invention are also championed. Despite some sensitive subject matter, I think this movie could get some mainstream traction.

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

26 September 2008 (USA)

Also Known As:

Humboldt County

Filming Locations:

Arcata, California, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$25,933, 28 September 2008

Gross USA:

$82,357

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$82,357

Company Credits

Production Co:

Embark Productions

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color