Life in Paterson, New Jersey is rather mundane. The majority of people living in this small New York City suburb are used to living a simple life and doing what they have to in order to provide for their families. Interestingly enough, however, with as little as goes on in this city, Paterson was once home to numerous men and women who have made it big in the fields of sports, movies, music and poetry. Similar to many of the faces that once lived in this northern, New Jersey city, Paterson (not the city, but the man), portrayed by Adam Driver, lives his life a day at a time, adheres to the same, monotonous schedule (as a NJ Transit driver) and writes poetry that some might find to be quite entertaining. Paterson and his wife, Laura (Golshifteh Farahani), view the world around them differently than most others. They see beauty in everything, regardless of how small and insignificant things might be. As Paterson attempts to join the ranks of some of the talented poets who have left Paterson behind, life will change ever so slowly, bringing to light the difficulties and the beauties present in everyday life.
Nothing happens in nearly two hours worth of film. Paterson walks to work every day, he drives the bus every day, he walks his dog, Martin (Nellie), every day, he comes home to his eccentric wife every day and he goes to the bar every day. His life is beyond simple, and it takes a lot for audiences to appreciate what is being done on screen. With very little to look forward to in terms of action, Paterson leaves audiences to their own devices and has them make up their own minds as to what exactly writer-director Jim Jarmusch is trying to say.
The world is an interesting place, and Jarmusch ensures that audiences get whiffs of the oddities that take place every day around us. As the mundane events of Paterson unfold before the viewers, they are given examples of the beauty that they often overlook. A set of twins who, more so than most others, love and adore one another, the simple design of a shower curtain and a misunderstanding between ex-lovers are just some examples of the things that Driver and Farahani are tasked with presenting audiences with items and situations like these and allow audiences to appreciate the beauty that lies beneath the surface of each of them.
Viewers have no choice but to dig in order to appreciate much that takes place in the film. In order to express this in the best way possible, each of the actors present in Paterson provide audiences with what can only be described as minimalist acting. They show very little emotion and they sometimes appear to be disconnected from the things they are taking part in and saying. The disconnect between the characters and the story gives Paterson a chance to explain itself. The sets speak for themselves, Marvin (the dog) explains how he feels about the city in which he lives, and the bar that Paterson visits every night acts as a smaller version of the city of Paterson, and, in turn, becomes a character itself. There are no twists and turns as one might typically speak of in a film, but Paterson delivers emotional ambiguity throughout that creates a subtle but expressive wave of sentiment in the minds of those watching. That sentiment changes from moment to moment and varies dramatically depending on who is watching the film.
An emotional response to Jarmusch’s Paterson is inevitable. He tows the line between boring and sensational, again leaving audiences no choice but to evaluate the scenarios present on screen. His ability to be both dull and remarkable at the same time speaks to the location of the film, the characters within the story and the audience. Nothing typically considered emotionally draining happens in Paterson, but there are times throughout the film that I could not help but feel overwhelmed. It was as if the levy struggled to keep the damn whole and that one more drop might cause it to burst; the worst part of this is that it is so hard to explain or to pinpoint what exactly pushes audiences to that point. The emotion that is so deep beneath the surface creeps its way into viewers’ hearts and minds, causing them to understand their own pains better than ever before. Yet, in the same moments that tears are being held back, Jarmusch provides those same viewers with a glimmer of hope that reminds them of the beauty within their own lives. The combination of every moment of the film is what creates this sense of hopelessness and hope at the same time. Audiences’ pain, sorrow, hopes, dreams, fears, regrets and what ifs become as much a part of the story as Driver’s Paterson or Farahani’s Laura. The viewers become the story and bring Paterson to life.
The beauty of Paterson is that it applies to everyone. The millionaires that are thriving thanks to daddy’s money, the homeless men and women who walk the streets hoping that one day life will take a turn for the better and the average Joe who works nine to five and supports his/her family by absolutely busting their hump every day can take away from Paterson. They understand the struggles (both mental and physical) and they understand the possibilities of success. Jarmusch is brilliant in his script, but Driver is the reason Paterson finds the success it does. He remains simple and underwhelming while being the everyman that every man needs.
Written & Directed by Jim Jamusch. Starring Adam Driver, Golshifteh Farahani, Nellie, Rizwan Manji, Barry Shabaka Henley, etc.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐½/10
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