Thumbsucker

An American independent comedy-drama from 2005, directed and written by Mike Mills, based on Walter Kirn's novel of the same name. The film follows the story of a shy 17-year-old teenager, Justin Cobb (Lou Taylor Pucci), living in suburban Oregon with his parents and younger brother. Justin suffers from a habit of thumb-sucking, which irritates his father, Mike (Vincent D'Onofrio), a former football player working in a sporting goods store. Justin's mother, Audrey (Tilda Swinton), a nurse, is infatuated with actor Matt Schramm (Benjamin Bratt) and dreams of meeting him. Justin attempts to overcome his habit with the help of orthodontist Perry Lyman (Keanu Reeves), who uses hypnosis, but to no avail. At school, Justin participates in debates under the guidance of teacher Mr. Geary (Vince Vaughn) and has feelings for classmate Rebecca (Kelli Garner), but hesitates to confess them. After unsuccessful attempts to quit his habit, his parents consult a psychiatrist who diagnoses Justin with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and prescribes Ritalin. The medication helps Justin become more confident and successful in debates but causes side effects. Gradually, he realizes that pills do not solve his internal problems and decides to stop the medication, striving to find his path and accept himself as he is. The film explores themes of coming-of-age, family relationships, and the search for identity, depicting a teenager's complex journey toward self-acceptance and independence.