WISH I WAS HERE

US, 2014, 106 minutes, Colour.
Zach Braff, Kate Hudson, Mandy Patinkin, Josh Gad, Pierce Gagnon, Joey King, Alexander Chaplin, Jim Parsons, Allan Rich.
Directed by Zach Braff.


One of the main reasons for seeing Wish I Was Here is Zach Braff. He not only co-directed and wrote, he also stars. And the important factor for the film ever being made was that Zach Braff and his co-producers advertised online, on Kickstarter, the site for ordinary people to donate for the production of a film. There is a huge list at the end of people thanked for their contributions.

The title sounds a little fey. And this is reinforced at the opening with a bizarre picture of Aidan, the central character, in a kind of science-fiction scene. And then he wakes up. But, during the film, he has some of these recurring images, especially concerning his brother and his father.

Aidan is an aspiring actor in Hollywood, landing mainly commercials and supporting roles. He is happily married to a very nice wife, Sarah, Kate Hudson being charming. He has two very energetic children, the older is a girl (Joey King), with the symbolic name of Grace which is important at moments during the film. The younger child is a lively son, Tucker (Pierce Gagnon). The first family scene is at the breakfast table which, somewhat disconcertingly, has a fair amount of swearing – with the family having a swear jar on the fridge and dad having to contribute a great deal. Then it lightens up as Aidan goes to sit with a crowd waiting for an audition – where the role has been changed, without his knowing, to an African- American role (with all the aspirants in the waiting room noting how they had all played Othello).

Almost immediately, a very strong Jewish theme is introduced. It is interesting to note that Zach Braff’s father is Jewish and his very New England traditional mother converted to Judaism. Aidan drops his children at a Jewish school which they thoroughly enjoy, Grace being particularly religious, knowing the scriptural background, interested in God issues, a girl who prays. The trouble is that they might have to move out of the school because their grandfather, Gabe (Mandy Patinkin at his best) has recurring cancer and needs the money with which he paid their fees for his treatment.

A lot of the film is consists of moments which are anecdotes, the decision to mend the fence and clean the swimming pool after his father’s criticisms, several conversation sequences, a visit to Aidan’s brother, Noah (Josh Gadd) who lives in a trailer where the door is rarely opened, working on a blog, some fine moments where Aidan is home-schooling his children because they cannot afford to go to the Jewish school.

The film is strongly pro-family, Aidan’s wife conscious that he is not always present when he is actually there, tries to find ways to bring him back. Both parents are devoted to their children. There are many fine, sometimes amusing, sequences showing family life.

Another very strong theme is that of dying. Aidan, close to his father, while Noah cannot bring himself to see his father, arranges a room in the house so that his dying father can have his final days at home. Mandy Patinkin’s performance shows a lot of the reality of fearless dying, including a beautifully intense conversation with Sarah, her gratitude to him for helping her through her sister’s death, talking with Aidan about the past, Gabe saying that he was not afraid and Aidan finding this most reassuring. Aidan phones Noah to come for his father’s death, Noah resisting but Grace going on the phone and very movingly persuading him to come. Which means that the death scene is quietly powerful.

Mention has been made of Judaism. There are various visits to Temple, to the school, to the ceremony for Gabe’s funeral. Aidan, who feels that he is not particularly religious, still focuses on questions of God and prayer, coming to talk to the rabbi in the Temple, the rabbi giving sound advice by asking Aidan how he might imagine God, with Aidan replying, using the word infinity to indicate his feel for the wonder of the universe. The rabbi urges him to reflect on how that works in his life. Aidan is really resistant to the phrase, God works in mysterious ways. And yet, a lot of the resolution of the film indicates mysterious ways, what other people might call Providence.

There is a nice ending, involving another audition and meeting with a man who was at a previous audition, Paul (Jim Parsons) and Aidan gives him good advice about his supporting role in a Star Trek kind of film. This is so much appreciated by Paul that he offers Aidan at some possibilities in theatre education that he never dreamed of.

Just before the final credits there is a collage of the events of the film and the central characters are all together a theatre performance.

Wish I Was Here illustrates that the humanity in the earlier film that he directed, Garden State (2004) is now even more evident.


1. The title? Aidan and his life? Being present, not present, living in his imagination, the reasons?

2. Los Angeles and the suburbs, the home, the yard and the pool, offices, audition rooms, home palliative care, supermarkets? The musical score? The Jewish overtones?

3. The picture of a family, mother, father, son, daughter? The opening and the table, the language, the swear jar and the reactions? Aidan there or not? Sarah as a good and kind person? Grace and the meaning of her name, interest in God, reliance on God and prayer? Tucker as a young boy?

4. Aidan, the credits, the science-fiction heroes of his childhood, in his imagination, the action, recurring? His relationship with Noah, with his father? Seeing them in the imaginations? The auditions, the irony of the search for an Afro- American actor? Paul, the auditions? The science fiction, Aidan’s knowledge of Stark Trek, his advice and prediction as to what was to happen to the character?

5. The Jewish school, Aidan delivering his children, the discussions with the rabbi, about the payments, Aidan not believing in God, going to the back to the rabbi and talking with him, the rabbi’s wisdom in asking what kind of God he might imagine, Aidan and the God of creation of the universe, infinity? The rabbi encouraging him to develop this? The children liking the school, not wanting to leave? The decision for home education? The Temple sequences, the crowds, the interview with the rabbi, his father’s funeral? The religious language? The importance of the Hebrew word for charity, approaching the rabbi about the fees, and his saying he could take from others for the Bloom family? The pervasive Judaism of the film?

6. The language of spirituality, God language, belief or not? Sarah not saying anything about faith? The children, Grace and her religious perspectives? Aidan and his reflecting on spirituality, the meaning of the universe? Not liking God and mysterious ways? Yet the opportunities for change, a kind of providence?

7. Sarah, at work, the crass sexual harassment and Gerry, her reaction, telling Aidan and telling him not to be upset? Gerry at the supermarket, propositioning the girl, confronted by Aidan and the children, Gerry punching him? The end, the interview, his accusations of sexual harassment, having to do the course, paid for by the Blooms, many times, fired?

8. The portrait of Aidan’s father, his coming to the house, criticism of the broken fence and the untended pool? The issue of money for the school, his paying the fees? The truth about his dying, the cancer, the treatment? Using his money for his health? His past, micro-biologist, at the University? Telling Sarah that he had been let go because of not keeping up with new technology? Her urging him to tell his sons? Aidan and his holding the family together, Noah and hurt, the memories of his father?

9. Noah, his trailer, the smell, keeping himself in, eccentric and nerdish, the blog, his interest in science-fiction, the girl and her confrontation with him? The Com Con conference, his costume, the parade, his winning the competition, the sexual encounter with the girl? Aidan’s phone call urging him to come to their dying father, Grace and her persuasive talk on the phone, her request? His turning up, the effect?

10. Sarah, the significance of the scene where she talked quietly with Gabe, the memories, his support when her sister died, his wise words, his saying she would be a good matriarch – and she saying that she already was?

11. Gabe, talking to Aidan, communicating, dying, the medicos outside, the almond ice cream, his declaration that he was not afraid, reassuring Aidan with this? The two boys, his final words? Aidan in the sea? The two brothers and their speech at the Temple?

12. Aidan becoming a true father, true husband, the sexual moment with his father catching him, doing the work in the laundry, Sarah’s approach, singing, the afternoon in bed, Sarah telling him about Gerry?

13. Fixing the fence and the pool, Gabe’s criticism, the kids willingly helping, their hard work, Grace on the diving board and reciting Robert Frost’s poem, Mending Wall, Aidan urging her to say it as a prayer that was not being heard?

14. Aidan fathering, the adventures with the kids, the photo of his father with the car and not having it, going to the showroom, his spiel about Puff Diddy and his children, Anthony and his seeing through the spiel, thinking that Grace was ill because of her shaven head? The exhilaration of the ride?

15. The home of the rich family, their being away, going to the pool, getting Grace to trust him and jump into the pool?

16. The end, providence, meeting Paul, the audition and his getting the part, Paul inviting him to the drama school to teach?

17. The scenes of Aidan teaching, the students listening to him, the performances? Grace at high school with the boy, shaving her head, the coloured wigs? Tucker and his dressing up? Noah and his girlfriend at the performance, Aidan and Sarah, the children? Happiness…?