Synopsis

After years away in Los Angeles, emotionally numb actor Andrew Largeman returns to his New Jersey hometown following his mother's death. Reconnecting with old friends and meeting the lively, unpredictable Sam, Andrew begins confronting his strained relationship with his father, his dependence on medication, and the directionless life he has been avoiding. Over several days, he gradually rediscovers intimacy, grief, and the possibility of change.

Factoids & Trivia

• Garden State was made on a reported $2.5 million budget and filmed in just 25 days. Much of the production took place in South Orange, New Jersey, where Zach Braff grew up.

• The project was originally titled Large's Ark. Braff changed the name after finding that people did not understand the reference.

• Braff treated the soundtrack as part of the screenplay's identity. When seeking financing, he sent the script with a CD of the songs he imagined accompanying the story.

• The soundtrack became a major part of the film's cultural legacy and won the 2005 Grammy Award for Best Compilation Soundtrack Album for a Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media.

• Budget limitations made licensing the desired songs difficult. Braff and the production team personally appealed to several musicians and rights holders, helping secure tracks that would otherwise have been too expensive.

• The tombstones in the pet cemetery were made by members of the cast and crew and included the names of their own deceased pets.

• The title refers to New Jersey's nickname, while also echoing the idea of a garden as a place of growth and renewal.