Igby Goes Down 2002

Jason “Igby” Slocumb Jr., a 17-year-old force of nonconformity, is suffocating under the stifling expectations of his privileged East Coast upbringing. Fearful of inheriting the mental fragility that has beset his institutionalized father, Jason, Igby rebels against his family’s suffocating grasp. His mother, Mimi, a self-absorbed and emotionally distant figure, perpetually succumbs to the numbing effects of heavy drinking. Meanwhile, his older brother Ollie is a zealous embodiment of fascist ideology, studying neo-fascism at Columbia University.

Igby, convinced that there must be a more authentic existence awaiting him beyond the confines of his stifling family dynamics, sets out to forge his own path. He achieves this by flunking out of various prep schools, only to land in a brutal military academy where he’s subjected to physical and emotional abuse at the hands of his classmates. After making his escape, Igby finds temporary solace in a Chicago hotel, courtesy of his mother’s credit card, before being dispatched to New York for the summer to stay with his godfather, real estate mogul D. H. Banes.

While working construction for D. H., Igby crosses paths with Rachel, the edgy, heroin-addicted muse who has captured his godfather’s affections. Rather than return to his academic routine, he becomes enthralled by the bohemian undercurrents of Manhattan, hiding out with Rachel and her performance artist friend Russel at their studio, courtesy of D. H.’s largesse. This dalliance eventually leads to a physical encounter between Igby and Rachel.

However, this fleeting sense of freedom is short-lived, as he’s subsequently found at the studio by D. H., only to be met with a brutal beating at the hands of Rachel for compromising her living arrangements. Seeking solace in the arms of another, Igby becomes embroiled with Sookie, a terminally bored part-time lover who ultimately leaves him for his ambitious older brother Ollie.

Despite her seeming indifference, Mimi is not immune to the pain and turmoil inflicted by her rebellious son. She reveals that Igby’s conception was an act of hostility, implying that it’s only natural that his life would unfold in a similar manner. The origin of his name is tied to a family inside joke, stemming from his childhood habit of blaming his toy bear, Digby, for his misdeeds, with his family subsequently labeling him “Igby” whenever he lied.

As Igby navigates the complexities of his relationships and surroundings, D. H. informs him that his mother Mimi is terminally ill with breast cancer, prompting Igby to return to her side. With a sense of resignation, she asks Igby to remain by her side as she faces mortality. In a tragic twist, Ollie plays a role in her demise, feeding her drug-laced strawberry yogurt before ultimately placing a plastic bag over her head.

As Mimi’s life force begins to ebb away, she drops a bombshell on Igby, her quiet inquiry piercing the air like a surgical strike: “Tell me, do you know that D.H. is your father?” The words hang in the balance, heavy with implications, as Igby struggles to process this seismic revelation. In the aftermath of this earth-shaking confession, Igby sets his sights on visiting his estranged father Jason in the hospital, a poignant precursor to his own journey westward, bound for Los Angeles and the promise of distance from the family dynamics that have long held him captive. With 3,000 miles separating him from the tangled web of relationships that has defined his life thus far, Igby embarks on a quest for self-discovery, leaving behind the familiar rhythms of home in search of a fresh start.