The movie Paterson is the latest film from the acclaimed writer and director Jim Jarmusch.
Paterson follows a week in the life of a poet who bears the same name as the film, as well as his town and the bus route that he drives. Paterson (Adam Driver) lives with his whimsical girlfriend Laura (Golshifteh Farahani) and their dog.
Each night Paterson takes the decidedly sassy dog Marvin on a walk and stops at the local pub to intermingle with the quirky owner, who plays against himself in a game of chess and a couple in the midst of a dramatic breakup. After Laura has a dream about having twins Paterson begins to notice twins almost everywhere, even meeting a young girl writing poetry similar to his own, who also happens to be a twin.
The movie amiably highlights the significance of the small diversions from the ordinary as well as the beauty in coincidence such as these through the repetition of Paterson’s daily routine. In an attempt to reflect on finding the poetic beauty in the small details of everyday life, Jarmusch ventures into a world that feels all too cliché.
Paterson is sweet and charming as he quietly navigates his life, too modest to publish his poetry, gently but deeply in love with his erratic girlfriend. Driver shows a softer side in the film, exhibiting the dimensions of his acting abilities. His character however is dull, a typecast of the creative nature – quiet and pensive, not necessarily understood but not entirely out of place either.
Laura, Paterson’s girlfriend, exists as a stereotype of the eclectic female, innocent and mindlessly unaware of a world beyond her creative bubble. Paterson works to support her creative but unprofitable lifestyle even though he mostly appears to be putting up with her flighty nature.
While the story seeks to implore the observer into an appreciation of life that is implicit in the everyday, it largely fails to move audiences or create a lasting impression. The story itself doesn’t create a world grounded in reality, disengaging the audience from its purpose.
You can watch Paterson in cinemas now for a limited time and check out the trailer below: