Jim Jarmusch was never famous for films that are fast-paced and action-packed, and this is also true for Paterson: the nearly two-hour-long film does not hold a cathartic experience, or a typically American happy ending, but rather presents the life of a common man living in the suburbs without any pretense, through symbols and mild moments. It was an extraordinary experience to finally go to the movies to see a film where the focus is not on the outfits of a superstar journalist or on the frauds of a handsome banker, but on tender human emotions and the language of love in a way that is hardly ever seen on the big screen.
The residents of Paterson are all regular people. They are hard-working, face everyday hardships, pay the bills, go to the farmers’ market on the weekends, and take their dogs out for a walk in the evenings. The bartender knows everybody, and the bus driver knowingly nods to his passing colleagues. Jarmusch’s characters could easily be any of our friends – especially the central couple who have completely opposite personalities, but still lead an life full of love, and are happy to open their eyes by each other’s side every morning. Is this kind of happiness inconceivable? Well, the fact that it does exist possibly shocks some of us, while soothing those who share something similar with somebody. Paterson gently portrays emotions without plate smashing, scheming, spitefulness, or head trips.
The involvement of poetry and other artistic motifs is also intriguing and thought-provoking. Played with understated intensity by Adam Driver, Paterson sketches poems into his notebook about the nuances of everyday life (for instance, about a matchbox), while the love of his life is visually striking, and paints new patterns on all kinds of surfaces – even on the orange in Paterson’s lunchbox – all the time. Besides that, she enthusiastically prepares for the weekend farmers’ market, making quite possibly horrible but highly elaborate cupcakes, which she naively hopes will provide her a path to fortune. She puts cupcakes in Paterson’s lunchbox every single day, and even though he always only eats half of them, he never complains. These details seem like small nuances, but in our modern world they could be hashtagged as #relationshipgoals. However, Paterson would definitely not get the concept of a hashtag, as he is an old-fashioned fellow who doesn’t even own a mobile phone. Is he an alien? No, he’s not, he just considers other things more meaningful…
Adam Driver had his breakthrough in the American television series Girls, and it already seemed likely back then that he had a lot more in store. Now he proved that he can credibly play not only the role of an intuitive but likeable rascal, but also an entirely ordinary man who has to reveal his true personality through his poems, mannerisms, and body movements. His partner Laura, played by Iranian actress Golshifteh Farahani, also perfectly portrays a childishly naive, occasionally even annoying girl who is full of lust for life. Other notable characters are the bartender who is a die-hard patriot of the city of Paterson, or the English bulldog who brings laughter to the big screen.
This film operates with a truly special symbolism and sedate witticism that continually strike the audience, even though the nearly two-hour-long film is very slow-paced. Just when our thoughts would wander off, a scene, an object, or a picture pops up that inspires a smile; whereas an ordinary movie would introduce a violent bank robbery or a sweaty sex scene to add excitement, that is definitely not what we get in Paterson, and, well, that is just fine.
Paterson premieres in Budapest on February 16th, and is screened with original English audio and Hungarian subtitles at Cirko-Gejzír Cinema, and at other Budapest art-house theaters.
