Jim Jarmusch

“IF ANYONE TELLS YOU THERE IS ONLY ONE WAY, THEIR WAY, GET AS FAR AWAY FROM THEM AS POSSIBLE, BOTH PHYSICALLY AND PHILOSOPHICALLY.”

There is something about Jim Jarmusch that makes you slightly intimidated, yet wanting to get to know him so badly, to be in his company and hear more and more about the things he has to say. He surely is someone you could learn a lot from and get inspired in a way you could never think of.

This authentic American film-maker has been successfully blowing away the world’s mind for more than 30 years now, both writing and directing since 1980. His career starter was very characteristic piece Permanent Vacation followed by the movie Stranger than Paradise (1984). Refusing to become mainstream and always staying loyal to his strange, very rock’n’roll side, Jarmusch kept doing mostly the low budget movies wandering off the point and exploring the unexplorable, creating works of art according to his own rules, always dancing to his own rhythm.

In his movie Down by Law, Jarmusch discovered and launched the future Oscar winner Roberto Benigni. He cooperated with many great names from various spheres of art – including Johnny Depp who played in his absolute masterpiece movie Dead Man. Away from the professional aspect Jarmusch is also a very close friend with Depp for many years now, as well as Emir Kusturica.

Other than the movies, music is inseparable part of Jarmusch’s life – as he always saw music and film going hand in hand and being inseparable. He was mostly inspired by the dark ominous musicians such as Tom Waits and John Lurie (who were also a part of Down by Law. His view of originality, or, better said – the non existence of one in this world- actually made Jarmusch the most unique out of them all.

“Nothing is original. Steal from anywhere that resonates with inspiration or fuels your imagination. Devour old films, new films, music, books, paintings, photographs, poems, dreams, random conversations, architecture, bridges, street signs, trees, clouds, bodies of water, light and shadows. Select only things to steal from that speak directly to your soul. If you do this, your work (and theft) will be authentic. Authenticity is invaluable; originality is non-existent. And don’t bother concealing your thievery – celebrate it if you feel like it. In any case, always remember what Jean-Luc Godard said: “It’s not where you take things from – it’s where you take them to.”

His movie Only Lovers Left Alive – the story of a vampire (who happens to be an underground musician) who reunites with his lover (also a vampire) will leave you in awe. Anyone who had a chance to enjoy movies of a weirdo such as Jarmusch, was, without a question, dazed by his talent. Jarmusch succeeded in leaving the audience confused, shocked, but before all astonished by his art, proving that staying away from the establishment and being a rebel in today’s movie industry can surely pay off. “LIFE HAS NO PLOT, WHY MUST FILMS OR FICTION?”, Jarmusch wonders, and I wholeheartedly agree.