Movie: Night On EarthDirector: Jim Jarmucsh
Languages: English, French, Italian, Finnish.
5 cities, 5 simultaneous cab rides, 5 stories.
Jim Jarmucsh brings us a beautiful and sometimes hilarious vignette movie taking place in five simultaneous cab rides all over the world with a high quality cast. Don’t be put off by the weak opening piece in LA, when we get NYC the movie really starts.
When Giancarlo Esposoito get’s into Armin Muller-Stahls New York taxi a comedy of manners ensues with a lot lost in translation. Throw in Rosie Perez and you have a sweet little fast talking’ New York comedy.
A touch of class next as the beautiful yet ugly Beatrice Dhal gets in the back of Isaach De Bankolé’s cab for a discussion on prejudice in modern day Paris. The beauty and rhythm of the French langauage can’t help but be seductive.
For some the great high point of the movie is the Roman trip with an exhausting performance from the manic Roberto Benigni treating his holy man passenger to some bawdy tales in the most animated of Italian gesticulations.
The film ends with Matti Pellonpää telling an unbearably heart breaking tale of love and loss to him tired and drunk passengers as the sun rises over a snowy Helsinki.
In a film featuring Actors from USA, Finland, France, Ivory Coast, Germany and Italy this film is a buffet/smörgåsbord/mezede of laguages, vernaculars and accents.
With Jarmuches amazing talent for casting and a rumbling soundtrack from regular collaborator Tom Waits this is a warm and welcoming movie that takes root and stays with you for a long time afterwards.
S.x.
