Broken Flowers is a 2005 French-American comedy-drama film, written and directed by Jim Jarmusch.

It's Jarmush's 9th movie, after Dead Man, Ghost Dog and Coffee and Cigarettes.

Jarmush

There are a lot to say about Jim Jarmush as he's a major figure of independent American cinema. But it's not the topic now.

His style is very personal mix full of references and influences from worldwide cinema history.

Murray

In Broken Flowers, Bill Murray delivers a great performance, taking a lot from Buster Keaton's character: a minimalist way of acting, which goes perfectly with Jarmush's style.

Murray also requested Jarmusch that the film be shot in locations within an hour of his house, in New York and New Jersey. Jarmusch complied with Murray's wishes, and found that it was actually helpful.

Road movie

Even though it was shot very locally, Broken Flowers is built like a "road movie", which is a genre that puts characters on the road.

By doing so, it projects life as a journey, and often creates an environment where the main character(s) are in search of something, and are brought to introspect. In road movies, main protagonists often face existential questions.

Finally, let me quote Jim Jarmusch, who said that the movie is about: "yearning for something that you're missing and not necessarily being able to define what it is".