Bongwater

Bongwater

Year: 1998

Runtime: 97 mins

Language: English

Director: Richard Sears

RomanceComedyRelationship comedyCrude humor and satireGags jokes and slapstick humor

When everything in life goes to pot, artist and chronic smoker David falls for the beautiful Serena. Their romance thrives until David's house burns down. Unwilling to face the negativity, Serena leaves for New York with rocker‑junkie Tommy. Isolated, David turns to marijuana and his eclectic friends to cope with the loss of his home and love.

Warning: spoilers below!

Haven’t seen Bongwater yet? This summary contains major spoilers. Bookmark the page, watch the movie, and come back for the full breakdown. If you're ready, scroll on and relive the story!

Timeline & Setting – Bongwater (1998)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Bongwater (1998). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

1980s

The film unfolds in the 1980s, an era of DIY art, punk scenes, and nightlife that shapes its offbeat humor. Drug experiments, such as LSD retreats in the woods and party rosters, reflect the era's counterculture vibe. The setting contrasts intimate indoor spaces with electric street scenes, underscoring a bohemian atmosphere.

Location

Portland, Oregon, New York City

Portland, Oregon is depicted as a laid-back, bohemian hub with a DIY art scene. It features intimate apartments and a close-knit circle of friends around David. The story then shifts to New York City's East Village, a gritty counterculture zone where Serena pursues a wilder urban life in a squat.

🌆 Bohemian cities 🎭 Offbeat comedy 🪄 Surreal atmosphere

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 18:18

Main Characters – Bongwater (1998)

Meet the key characters of Bongwater (1998), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

David

A laid-back stoner and aspiring artist living in Portland; he dreams of a real career but is pulled between bohemian life and artistic ambition, especially as Serena pushes him toward change.

🎨 Artist 🧭 Dreamer

Serena

A tempestuous, ambitious partner who drives David toward a career and then moves to New York with Tommy, leaving a trail of upheaval in her wake.

💫 Free spirit 🔥 Temperamental

Jennifer

A friend of Serena who becomes romantically involved with David, reflecting the film's complicated love dynamics and blurred loyalties.

💖 Romantic interest 🎭 Complex relationship

Mary Weiss

Daughter of a gallery owner who falsely claims to be an art curator; she becomes a romantic connection for David during his Portland years.

🎨 Art world ❤️ Romance

Robert

One half of a gay couple, a close friend in David's circle who shares the Portland apartment life and reinforces the film's communal bohemia.

🏳️‍🌈 LGBTQ ally 👥 Friend

Tommy

A punk rocker and paranoid heroin addict who moves with Serena to New York, embodying the era's rebellious subculture.

🧷 Punk vibe 💊 Drug culture

Devlin

David's friend who runs a spiritual retreat in the woods; they share LSD experiences that underscore the search for meaning beyond the bohemian party.

🪴 Spiritualism 🧭 Mentor

Bobby

A diner acquaintance who invites Serena to move in; he represents the urban social network that surrounds the central characters.

🗽 NYC street life 👥 Friend

Mom

David's mother, a figure who appears in hallucinations and memory, representing the familial influence and personal history shaping his choices.

👩‍👦 Family 🧠 Memory

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 18:18

Major Themes – Bongwater (1998)

Explore the central themes of Bongwater (1998), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🌀 Reality vs Fantasy

The narrative blends ordinary life with surreal, hallucinatory episodes—David's LSD experiences, his mother's imagined lunch, and the final UFO sighting—making it hard to separate what is real from what the mind creates.

❤️ Love and Ambition

Romantic entanglements drive the plot: David's relationship with Mary, Serena's restless departure to NYC, and the complicated bond with Jennifer. The film juxtaposes affection with the lure of success and the cost of chasing dreams.

🔥 Destruction

Serena's volatile passion erupts into destructive acts, including burning down David's house, illustrating how desire and frustration can devastate relationships and lives.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 18:18

Unlock the Full Story of Bongwater

Don't stop at just watching — explore Bongwater in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Bongwater is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

Bongwater Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Bongwater, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

Bongwater Summary

Bongwater Timeline

Track the full timeline of Bongwater with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

Bongwater Timeline

More About Bongwater

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about Bongwater: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

More About Bongwater

Explore More About Movie Bongwater

Bongwater (1998) Plot Summary & Movie Recap

Bongwater (1998) Scene-by-Scene Movie Timeline

Bongwater (1998) Spoiler-Free Summary & Key Flow