Broken Vessels

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Broken Vessels is a 1999 American medical drama directed by Scott Ziehl, in his feature debut. Written by Ziehl with David Baer and John McMahon, the film stars Todd Field, Jason London, Roxana Zal, Susan Traylor, and James Hong. It follows Tom, a young rookie paramedic from Pennsylvania who moves to Los Angeles to work for an ambulance company. He is paired with Jimmy, a confident veteran who copes with the job through drugs. As Tom sees the darker side of the work, he must decide what direction his life will take.

Made on a shoestring budget of $600,000, Broken Vessels debuted at the Los Angeles Independent Film Festival and had a limited release in two theaters over the Fourth of July weekend in 1999. It earned $3,722 in its wide opening and $13,493 overall. The film is not related to Andre Dubus’s book of the same name.

Critics responded with praise for the performances and energy. Roger Ebert gave it 3 out of 4 stars, while Variety called it a vivid, promising first feature. The Los Angeles Times lauded its high-energy, well-drawn characters and strong acting. The movie also earned festival recognition, including winning the Los Angeles Independent Film Festival’s Audience Award in 1998, and earning nominations at the British Independent Film Awards (Best Foreign Independent Film — English Language) and the Gijón International Film Festival (Scott Ziehl for Grand Prix Asturias, Best Feature).