Which 2004 film directed by Zach Braff stars himself and Natalie Portman?

The 2004 film directed by and starring Zach Braff alongside Natalie Portman is Garden State.

Braff plays Andrew Largeman, a young actor and waiter who returns to his New Jersey hometown after his mother dies. There he reconnects with old friends and meets Sam, an eccentric young woman played by Portman. Andrew’s return forces him to confront grief, emotional numbness, family tension, and the possibility of making different choices.

Garden State was Braff’s feature directing and writing debut. He based parts of the story on his own experiences, and New Jersey serves as both the setting and the primary filming location. The title refers to New Jersey’s nickname and also echoes language from Andrew Marvell’s poem “The Garden.”

The film is especially associated with its carefully selected soundtrack, which won a Grammy Award for Best Compilation Soundtrack Album for a Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media. It is sometimes mistaken for a studio teen comedy, but it is more accurately a romantic comedy-drama about returning home and emotional recovery.