Paterson (2016)
Poetry comes from the unlikeliest of drivers.
Presentation:
Can bus drivers be poets? If anyone is to give us a slice of life poetry film, it might as well be deadpan director Jim Jarmusch. This film is likely influenced by Poetry and attempts to accomplish what Perfect Days perfected in 2024. This is a slow, potentially boring mood piece for those that don’t mind taking their time to see beauty in the mundane. It’s not as effective as the other films I mentioned, but what it has going for it is a more literal and comedic approach. With his signature subtle wit, Jarmusch provides a more laid back approachable poetry film with the help of a calm Adam Driver. I actually quite like this film toward the end especially during some of the more ambient sections, which succeeds in delivering the poetic storytelling it sets out for.
Conclusion:
This is a very chill film that allows you catch your breath from all the noisy complex narratives dominating the market. I found Adam Driver’s character intriguing and his deadpan demeanor was a perfect fit for Jarmusch’s sensibilities. On the other hand I didn’t really like the woman’s character very much, but I wasn’t sure if that was by design. She has an interesting thematic element through her black and white aesthetics and the black and white cinema. Also, how lovely it was to see the stars from Moonrise Kingdom make an appearance and see them all grown up. Poetry comes in the unlikeliest of places.
Recommendations
How are films like this even possible?!