Accentuate the negative.|Jul. 20, 2001|Germany|111 Min.|R
Genre: Comedy;Drama
Description: Ghost World (2001) – A Tale of Cynicism and Adolescence
Best friends Enid and Rebecca navigate the confusing summer following their high school graduation. With no clear plans for the future, their only goal is to secure jobs and live together. Both girls are cynical social outcasts, though Rebecca tends to be more popular with boys than Enid. Their lives take an unexpected turn when Enid’s diploma is withheld due to her failure to meet academic requirements. She is forced to attend a remedial art class to earn it, despite being a talented artist. However, her art teacher, Roberta, dismisses Enid’s work as mere “light entertainment,” believing art should carry deeper social messages.
One day, the girls stumble upon a personal ad from a lonely, middle-aged man named Seymour, who is searching for a woman he recently met. Enid, motivated by curiosity, pranks Seymour by pretending to be the woman and arranges a meeting at a diner. Along with their friend Josh, they secretly observe Seymour at the diner and mock him. Over time, Enid begins to sympathize with Seymour and eventually befriends him after purchasing an old blues album from his garage sale. She decides to help him find a romantic partner, marking the start of an unusual yet meaningful connection.
Meanwhile, Enid continues attending her art class and convinces Seymour to lend her a vintage poster from Coon Chicken Inn, a now-defunct fried chicken franchise. She presents it in class as a commentary on racism, impressing Roberta enough to offer her an art college scholarship. As Enid’s life takes this new direction, she encourages Seymour to pursue a relationship with Dana, the woman he originally sought. However, Enid unexpectedly struggles with jealousy as Seymour grows closer to Dana.
Ghost World explores themes of friendship, identity, and the challenges of transitioning into adulthood with a blend of humor and poignancy. The story captures the essence of teenage cynicism and the search for meaning in a world that often feels alienating.
Cast director: Terry Zwigoff
Cast actor: Scarlett Johansson, Thora Birch, Steve Buscemi, Brad Renfro, Illeana Douglas, Bob Balaban, Stacey Travis, Charles C. Stevenson Jr., Dave Sheridan, Tom McGowan
Original name: Ghost World