3. Biography
Born outside of Akron Ohio
− January 22nd, 1953
His mother was a journalist and a film critic
− He was interested in literature since he was a
child
− Attended Northwestern of Journalism – 1972
− Transferred to Columbia – 1973
English and American Literature
Wanted to be a Poet
4. Film Background
Exposed to Japanese Horror Films and
European films like James Bond
− These became influential
2 Black and White American Films
− The Night of the Hunter
− Thunder Road
No hands on film experience till last year at
Columbia
− Travelled to Paris
5. Cinémathèque Française
Huge Film Archives in Paris
− Here he was able to watch films by well known
Japanese directors he had never seen
Directors: Imamaru, Ozu, Mizoguchi
− Saw films by European Directors
Bressen, Dreyer
6. Biography Continued
He applied and was accepted to NYU graduate
department of film studies without any
experience
− Learned technical aspects of filmmaking
Became teaching assistant of Nicholas Ray
− Director of Rebel without a Cause
Met Wim Wenders
− Worked as a Production Assistant
− Later helped him make Strangers in Paradise
He went on from there
7. Films
Received some grants and funding that helped
get him started
Only made 9 feature films since 1979
Focus on:
− Stranger Than Paradise – 1984
− Coffee and Cigarettes - 2003
8. Cinematography Style
“If scene is there, movie is there” - Nicholas
Ray
− Very long shots
− Stagnant shots
− Well composed
− Sparse Cutting
− Wide/long Shots
Do any of these stick out to you in the following
clips?
9. Stranger Than Paradise
Received the Camera d'Or at Cannes 1984
− Best feature film
Started work on it in 1981
Themes
− Alienation, Travel, Uprootedness
Three Hungarian immigrants living in the US
− Willie, Eva (his cousin), Eddie (Willie's friend)
About their day to day life as Hungarian
immigrants in the US, and explores these
themes.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VaoNnQfVJ-g&fe
10. Coffee and Cigarettes
A dry comedy revolving around conversations
had over coffee and cigarettes
Jarmusch uses humor to add to the
awkwardness set up by the long takes
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=49tTzEifY6M
