Igby Goes Down tells the dark story of a trust fund baby (Kieran Culkin), whose family includes an abusive and insensitive mother ( Susan Sarandon), a depressive father in residence at the "Maryland home for the befuddled" (Bill Pullman), and his nasty overachieving older brother Oliver (Ryan Phillippe). Flunking out of school and smoking whatever he can find, Igby heads to New York to work for his godfather (Jeff Goldblum). In the city, Igby finds escape in a waitress (Claire Danes) and a drugged up artist (Amanda Peet). New York turns out to be less than the haven Igby had hoped for. He must navigate family secrets, disdain for his dying mother, and drug abuse as he tries to find himself.