New York suburbanite, Eden Fuller (Roberts) is an audacious 43 year-old ESL teacher beleaguered with a crisis of distant relationships. Recently divorced and humiliated by an act of unprofessionalism, her credibility is severely tarnished around the workplace. Late night hookups plus rounds of brewskis at the local tavern influence an occasional “drunk dial” text to her insolent ex-husband, Leroy (Slattery). Due to emotional discomfort, her teenage daughter, Millie (Woodley), a social misfit, moved into the city alongside her awkward fiancé, Brandon (Hutcherson), and his Bohemian mother, Amy (McDormand), after giving birth during senior year in high school. The departure leaves Eden’s insecurities rampant with inquiries as well as desperate attempts to rekindle a once inseparable bond.
To mend the turmoil of her family’s abrupt deterioration, Eden pursues a lascivious affair with married associate Denis (Ejiofor), a second generation Bahamian immigrant, who she met during a trip abroad the Caribbean islands. Their escapades ignite an eluded sense of intimate gratification. Both feel unrestrained to maintain a serious romantic liaison yet are connected to the mutual disappointments surrounding their existences. His spontaneous third marriage to the feisty Yevette (Kravitz), a woman twelve years his junior, has also lost its alluring fire. She no longer feels obligated to accept his ‘open’ position on a monogamous union.
One evening, Eden is visited by her quirky younger brother, Ronnie (Hall), a struggling painter, whose apartment erupted into flames. Since the passing of their mother, they’ve grown estranged for months. Continuous drug related incarcerations further placed a black sheep stigma on his role in the family. Homeless and disparaged, Eden agrees to move in her sibling under his harsh situation. Yet it isn’t long until she discovers his battle with Endocarditis, an infection of the inner lining of the heart. Devastated, she consciously affirms to build an emotional connection as Ronnie’s health worsens. Coincidentally, Denis holds off on their blossoming fling when Yevette attempts to commit suicide, Millie’s upcoming nuptials are disrupted by rising tensions between family members, and Eden reevaluates her circumstances while balancing dignity and humor. “Eden” is about profound dilemmas and how consequences evolve from every action.