Stranger Than Paradise

Release year: 1984

Director: Jim Jarmusch

Screenwriter: Jim Jarmusch

Starring: John Lurie, Eszter Balint, Richard Edson, Cecilia Stark, Danny Rosen, Rammellzee, Tom DiCillo, Richard Boes

Ratings: Golden Camera at Cannes Film Festival.

New York-based Willie (John Lurie) is paid a surprise visit by his Hungarian cousin Eva (Eszter Balint) who is on her way to their aunt Lotte (Cecilia Stark). Willie reluctantly lets Eva stay where she waits around alone, but when she leaves Willie still finds himself missing his younger cousin and together with best friend Eddie (Richard Edson) he goes to visit her and his aunt.

One of Jarmusch’s (Dead Man, 1995) earliest movies is this low budget dramady shot in black and white. Build up over three acts the story shows the interaction between Eva, Willie and Eddie as they go about life doing pretty much nothing. Everytime something happens it happens outside the picture with us being left out, like Eva, waiting around. Stripped down to the bare necessities the movie forces you to focus on the characters alone and the connection with them at times feels intimate as you occasionally feel like you are spying on someone’s everyday life. The performances from Lurie (Wild at Heart, 1990), Edson (Platoon, 1986) and Balint (Trees Lounge, 1996), all with a background in music, are all quiet and heartfelt but with its minimalistic style and sense of emptiness it is definitely an acquired taste and quite a boring watch. It is like Willie says ‘You know it’s funny. You come to someplace new, and everything looks just the same’, which pretty much sums up the movie. The characters may move around but nothing ever changes. If you are a fan of independent film this landmark in modern independent film is probably something of a must.

Moviegeek info:

Director Jim Jarmusch was dismayed to discover all the money he paid for the rights to Screamin’ Jay Hawkins’ “I Put a Spell on You” went to the record company, with nothing going to Hawkins himself. When the film earned a profit, Jarmusch took it upon himself to track down Hawkins (who was living in a trailer park, at the time) and give him some money. It was the beginning of a friendship between the two which lasted until Hawkins’ death.

Cameo:

In the scene where Willie and Eddie pick up Eva from the Hot Dog stand, director Jim Jarmusch can be seen eating a hot dog while wearing a beanie in the background.