ABSTRACT
In I Heart Huckabees (David O. Russell, USA, 2004) Albert (Jason Schwartzman) is a dedicated environmental activist and poet. He leads a citizens’ coalition in an effort to save a wooded area from development by a large department store chain called Huckabees. Albert is also concerned about a series of experiences in his life that seem random but he believes may be connected in some strange way. In part, these involve crossing paths three times with an unknown individual he calls the “African man” (Ger Duany). After finding a business card in the pocket of a suit jacket provided to him by a restaurant, Albert decides to visit that address on the card, which is that of Vivian Jaffe, Existential Detective. At the detectives’ office, he agrees to hire Bernard and Vivian Jaffe (Dustin Hoffman and Lily Tomlin) to spy on him. Although he does not understand the detectives’ business or their methods, he hopes they will find something in his life to help explain his experiences. Bernard begins the investigation by zipping Albert inside a bag, where he experiences apparent hallucinations. Bernard explains this, saying Albert is beginning to see the interconnectedness of all things, the truth behind all experiences.
