movie world

Night on Earth is another thoroughly distinctive and compelling film by writer and director Jim Jarmusch. This deadpan comedy-of-the-night is a collection of five vignettes taking place in the enclosed space of a cab ride, each occurring simultaneously in five different cities and five different time zones -- Los Angeles, New York City, Paris, Rome, and Helsinki.

On one winter night, we witness the human condition via encounters between taxi drivers and their passengers in five different cities. Class differences are explored in Los Angeles where a casting agent (Gina Rowlands) pressures a cabbie (Winona Ryder). Family problems are aired in a New York segment starring Giancarlo Esposito, Armin Mueller-Stahl, and Rosie Perez. In Paris, an African driver experiences discomfort and mystery in the presence of a beautiful blind woman. A wild cab driver confesses his sins to a priest in Rome, and in Helsinki, three inebriated men share their lives with a cab driver who has problems of his own. Nights on Earth is a great concept well executed.

Director: Jim Jarmusch
Cast: Winona Ryder, Gena Rowlands, Lisanne Falk, Roberto Benigni
Country: France, UK, Germany, USA, Japan
Genre: Comedy, Drama

BD50, DVD9 | 1080p AVC, NTSC | 02:08:19 | 42.7 Gb + 7.64 Gb + 3% rec
Language: English
Subtitles: English

Extras:

• Commentary - this archival audio commentary features two longtime collaborators of Jim Jarmusch: cinematographer Frederick Elmes and location and sound mixer Drew Kunin. It is a very technical commentary with plenty of very specific information about the qualities that each segment of Night on Earth conveys as well as the manner in which they were shot under unique conditions. The commentary was recorded for Criterion's DVD release of Night on Earth in 2007.

• Q&A with Jim - this program was created in 2007 for Criterion's DVD release of Night on Earth. Fans of the film from around the world sent various questions to Jim Jarmusch and he answered as many as he could. Presented with an introduction that was recorded in New York City. In English, not subtitled. Audio only. (61 min, 1080p).

• Jim Jarmusch - presented here is an archival interview with Jim Jarmusch that first appeared on Belgian television on June 4, 1992. The director explains how the original concept for Night on Earth was conceived and clarifies why language barrier sare actually not an issue for him. In English, with printed French subtitles. (6 min, 1080i).