Film Critique - Broken Flowers

In Broken Flowers Bill Murray plays Don Johnston, an aging “Don Juan” who receives an anonymous letter which tells him that nearly 20 years ago he became a father. His supposed son has left on a mysterious road trip, perhaps to find his father. Murray's neighbor, Winston, takes on the mystery and sends Murray on a cross-country journey through past relationships to discover which one might be the mother of his son.

There is no one who can perform “doing nothing” in the middle of everything better than Bill Murray, and he is able to convey thoughts and emotions with subtleness and purpose. As Murray meets with his former relationships, he approaches them with memories of the past; but, he is quickly confronted with the reality that lives change. It is a reality that is mired with surprises, disappointments, and new sentiments.

Many films explore exactly this interaction between time, memory, and perception. But the film’s director, Jim Barmusch, not only addresses this interplay with sophistication, he is also not afraid to delve deep into the complexity of the pain and confusion that surface with the memories. And it is not without fresh humor and witty turns of phrase. I find this film to be one of the best films of this year.


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