Laurel Canyon 2003

Sam and Alex, an engaged couple eager to elevate their careers, relocate to Los Angeles. While Sam, a fresh medical graduate, embarks on his psychiatric residency, Alex is busy wrapping up her Ph.D. dissertation on genomics. They plan to settle in the vacant home of Sam’s mother, Jane, a free-spirited record producer residing in Laurel Canyon.

However, plans take an unexpected turn as Jane is still very much around, passionately recording an album with her British boyfriend, Ian McKnight, and his band. Their fiery romance tends to overshadow the album’s completion, as Jane and her bandmates focus more on partying than music-making. This proves to be a source of frustration for Sam, who finds himself at odds with his mother’s carefree lifestyle, complicating their already strained relationship.

Curiously drawn to this new lifestyle, Alex begins to spend more time with the band, diverting her attention from her academic responsibilities. This newfound fascination culminates in a provocative scene where Alex finds herself in a swimming pool, passionately kissing both Jane and Ian while they are naked. As this unfolds, Sam grapples with his own attraction to Sara, a fellow resident who shows a keen interest in him. The two share an electric first kiss after an informal interns’ meeting, occurring simultaneously with Alex’s heated encounter in the pool.

The tension escalates when Alex attends a hotel suite party held to celebrate the release of the band’s new album. Here, Sam and Sara have a charged discussion in a parking lot, mutually acknowledging their attraction. As their feelings deepen, both Sam and Alex find their relationship hanging by a thread.

Following the party, as things seem to have calmed down, Ian attempts to escalate his rendezvous with Alex and Jane, but Jane ultimately decides against it. This decision leads to an explosive confrontation when Sam, upon revealing the truth after his chat with Sara, returns to the hotel only to find Jane, Ian, and Alex in a compromising situation. Overwhelmed with anger, he lashes out at Ian, inadvertently hitting his mother in the process. In the heat of the moment, he storms out, but not before being chased down by Alex, who fervently professes her love for him.

The following morning brings a sense of normalcy, but it’s short-lived. Sara calls Sam, expressing her inability to control her feelings for him, a stark contrast to what he had told her earlier. Lost in thought, Sam watches the world around him, taking time to reflect on the chaos surrounding him and the emotions vying for his attention.