Overview
A solitary man embarks on a journey of self-discovery, confronting his past and unexpected connections.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- None
- deadpan
- wistful
- melancholic
- quiet weekend
- reflective movie night
What critics said
Critics broadly praised Bill Murray's subtle comic performance and Jim Jarmusch's minimalist, deadpan storytelling as an accessible and emotionally generous treatment of aging and regret.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Don's poker-faced reactions and awkward encounters with former lovers generate humor while exposing his regret and vulnerability.
Don crosses the country to visit four former flames, and each unannounced meeting advances his investigation into his past.
The mysterious pink letter claiming Don has a nineteen-year-old son motivates Winston's amateur investigation and Don's journey.
Jim Jarmusch's minimalist storytelling and understated presentation make Don's silences, pauses, and small shifts in demeanor central dramatic material.
Films like Broken Flowers, and why
About Schmidt
deadpan road movie structure, emotionally guarded middle-aged protagonist, and bittersweet reflection on past relationships
Sideways
understated comedy, midlife disillusionment, and a self-involved man confronting the consequences of his emotional detachment
Stranger Than Paradise
minimalist American independent filmmaking, laconic humor, and episodic encounters that gradually open into emotional vulnerability
Lost in Translation
quietly comic journey through former relationships, with a restrained male lead and wistful examination of aging
Movie Details
- Director
- Jim Jarmusch
- Release Date
- 2005-07-31
- Runtime
- 106 min
- Rating
- 6.9 / 10 (1538)
Cast
- Bill Murray
- Sharon Stone
- Jessica Lange
- Tilda Swinton
- Frances Conroy
- Alexis Dziena
- Chloë Sevigny
- Christopher McDonald
- Julie Delpy
- Jeffrey Wright
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Broken Flowers about?
- A detached bachelor’s cross-country search for a rumored son becomes a deadpan, wistful reckoning with the women and emotional evasions he left behind.
- What is Broken Flowers like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Broken Flowers as measured, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Broken Flowers violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in Broken Flowers.
- What did critics think of Broken Flowers?
- Critics broadly praised Bill Murray's subtle comic performance and Jim Jarmusch's minimalist, deadpan storytelling as an accessible and emotionally generous treatment of aging and regret.
- Which films are like Broken Flowers?
- Films with a similar feel include About Schmidt, Sideways, Stranger Than Paradise, and Lost in Translation.
- How long is Broken Flowers?
- Broken Flowers runs 106 minutes.
- Where can I watch Broken Flowers?
- In United States, Broken Flowers is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home.
