Night On Earth

Jim Jarmusch, USA 1992, 130 minutes

Jim Jarmusch, weirdmeister extraordinaire, is one of the most original directors to come out of that big place across the Atlantic in years as Night On Earth proves.

Night On Earth charts five taxi journeys going on simultaneously all over the world from dusky Los Angeles to dawn breaking in Helsinki. The what-is-happening-to-different-people-at-the-same-time concept is one that Jarmusch had used previously in Mystery Train but I think Night On Earth is a more satisfying and interesting film largely because its content is more varied. While Mystery Train was Memphis bound, Night On Earth travels from Los Angeles to New York, Paris, Rome, finishing off at Helsinki, and making full use of the locations on route with atmospheric shots of the cities at night set to the coolest of cool music. The international locations also mean that Jarmusch used an international cast uncovering many very unknown and very talented actors on the way. Perhaps what is most brilliant about the film is the way that the mood of the film can change so quickly and yet so effectively. At points, Night On Earth reaches almost unrivalled points of hilarity such as the Roman taxi driver's confession of guilt of his adolescent love for Lola the sheep and his sexual predilection for pumpkins; while by contrast it is almost impossible not to be moved to tears by the tragic story told by the Finnish taxi driver. Even within one scene, Jarmusch switches the comic atmosphere of for instance Helmut and Yo Yo's conversation in New York to a frightening, tragic mood as lonely and confused Helmut drives off naïvely through the threatening streets of New York. All this talent and a brilliant Tom Waits soundtrack - what more could you want?

"A film of great warmth... Jarmusch has shown us moments most film-makers don't even notice" - Time Out

Review by Alicia Forsyth
Taken from EUFS Programme 1996-97

Tonight on Earth is one or those curious films that raises me question 'just how did they get funding for this?'. Tax loss and EC grant are two theories that spring to the mind of a cynical reviewer who awaits a full postbag of answers by week 2. The totally unconnected stories of five taxi rides in five cities around the globe on the same night may seem an unlikely script but the film has its own quirky charm that many professional critics found irresistable.

There is no particular plot, even in each of the five sections of the film, but the taxi rides are extremely funny and often bizarre. If the locations change it seems that the unreality of taxi transportation is ubiquitous around the planet. Its not often you hear Finnish on the big screen but three drunks in a taxi in Helsinki could be three drunks in a taxi in Lothian Road, or even the far side of the moon. And the taxis in Rome really are driven by maniacs who consider the horn as an alternative break pedal.

Review by Dave Pallin
Taken from EUFS Programme 1993-94