Break up movie, portrayal of post-breakup depression and loss, journey of self-discovery. Kick-ass soundtrack.
The movie follows former lothario Don Johnston (Don Juan, sometimes this movie is just a little heavy-handed), at a pivotal point in his life when he is dumped and falls into obvious deep depression. This movie relies on beautiful, subtle humour, odd synchronicity, and makes no attempt to hide Don’s deeply disquiet soul. The soundtrack, featuring the music of Mulatu Astatke, adds a haunting vibe to the movie that really gets under the skin.
The movie plays in six acts. First act covers his break up which coincides with the receipt of a mysterious anonymous letter which reveals that he is a father of a now 19 year old son. His best friend convinces him to list all the women that he remembers being with at the time. Don’s list includes five women. His friend does some detective work and discovers that one of the women has subsequently died and therefore could not be the author of the letter. The remainder of the movie is divided amongst his encounters with the four other women and his visit to the grave site to his deceased former love. The title alludes to these women, for whom life has not necessarily been kind following his departure from their lives. Sometimes the damage arose from what he wrought, in others, from circumstance and time. The movie travels deeper and deeper down the hole of emotion as his encounters deteriorate from the first fond and happy trip down memory lane to his final brief and violent encounter. His quest at first glance may appear to be to find his son and who wrote the letter, but really he answers questions about himself, his impact on others and his place in the world.
This movie is a quintessential road trip movie. The protagonist’s former lovers live spread out across the continental US and he is required to fly and then drive to each of their remote locations. Frequently, shots show his side mirrors in sharp contrast to a more blurry destination ahead on twisty, bending roads, highlighting his uncertainty of what lies ahead of him. Trucks pass him with ominous speed, adding an edge of danger to his quest.
While it hasn’t been something that I have done, is there really no better way to recover from a breakup than hitting the road? Roadtrips provide a very concrete division in life from what came before and after a relationship as well as removing one temporarily from the scenes and places of all that unhappiness. As well, for Don, it is a more concrete, actual trip down memory lane, mirroring the nostalgia that many feel for former loves after experiencing a breakup. Don takes this trip and is able to answer questions for himself as to what happened to these women and what might have been.
Favourite quote:
“I’m a stalker in a Taurus.” - Don Johnston (Bill Murray)
Healing Factor:
4 out of 5 Pink Flowers.
Broken Flowers, 2005. Directed by Jim Jarmusch. Bill Murray, Jeffrey Wright, Sharon Stone, Frances Conroy, Jessica Lange, Tilda Swinton, Julie Delpy. Focus Films
For more info on the movie: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0412019/
For your listening pleasure: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JhHmK68r948
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