Down by Law – Jim Jarmusch's Neo-Beat Noir Cult Classic (Arthaus Edition) DVD 

Made in Germany 

Region 2 PAL DVD

• UPC: 4006680027364
• Product Type: DVD Video (DVD 9)
• Brand Name: Kinowelt Home Entertainment / Arthaus
• MPN: 500526
• Genre: Comedy / Crime / Drama
• Style: Independent / Neo-Beat Noir / Cult Film
• Audio Language: English (Mono Dolby Digital)
• Subtitles: German, Dutch, French
• Region: 2 (PAL)

Overview

Down by Law is the internationally acclaimed breakthrough film from legendary independent director Jim Jarmusch. Shot in striking crystalline black-and-white by cinematographer Robby Müller, the film follows three mismatched men who find themselves sharing a Louisiana prison cell. Zack (Tom Waits), a failed disc jockey, and Jack (John Lurie), a small-time pimp, are both framed for crimes they didn't commit, while the excitable Italian tourist Roberto (Roberto Benigni) is incarcerated for a bizarre accidental killing. Despite their initial friction, this trio of outcasts forms an unlikely bond and embarks on a surreal journey through the swamps of New Orleans to find their freedom.

Backside Text (Translated): Three men end up independently of each other in the same prison cell. Zack, an out-of-work disc jockey, is wrongly imprisoned for murder. Jack, a big-talking pimp, is accused of child prostitution. And Roberto has committed a murder in self-defense with a billiard ball. Zack and Jack hate each other at first sight. They can only agree on one thing: they can't stand Roberto, whose naive optimism and incessant attempts to expand his scant English vocabulary are nerve-wracking. But it is precisely he who discovers the tunnel through which the three inmates can escape. On their common odyssey through the swamps of Louisiana, they learn to know and appreciate each other. The fascination of the film comes from the characters: extraordinary and human at the same time, in the midst of a desolate environment.

Product Features

• Format: 1:1.78 (16:9 Anamorphic)
• Runtime: Approx. 103 Minutes
• Audio: Mono Dolby Digital (English)
• Age Rating: FSK 12 (Freigegeben ab 12 Jahren)
• Special Features: * Music video with Tom Waits ("It's All Right with Me")
• Interview with cinematographer Robby Müller
• Telephone calls between Jim Jarmusch and stars Roberto Benigni, Tom Waits, and John Lurie
• Isolated music track
• Original Trailer

Interesting Facts

• Cannes Recognition: The film was nominated for the Palme d'Or (Golden Palm) at the 1986 Cannes Film Festival.
• Real-Life Romance: Roberto Benigni and Nicoletta Braschi, whose characters meet and fall in love in the film, later got married in real life.
• Shakespearean Style: Director Jim Jarmusch famously told cinematographer Robby Müller that the film should look "just like a fairy tale".
• Musical Talent: The film stars two prominent musicians, Tom Waits and John Lurie, with Lurie also composing the film's noirish original score.
• Improvisational Roots: Benigni's character kept a notebook of American idioms in the film, a real-life habit he shared with his character as he was learning English during production.
• Location Authenticity: No miniatures were used for the swamp sequences; Jarmusch opted for authentic, desolate Louisiana locations to capture the "Southern Gothic" atmosphere.

Publishers

• Studio: Arthaus / Kinowelt Home Entertainment
• Director: Jim Jarmusch
• Writer: Jim Jarmusch
• Cinematography: Robby Müller
• Producer: Alan Kleinberg

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Deutsche Beschreibung (German Translation)

Übersicht

Down by Law ist der international gefeierte Durchbruch für Jim Jarmusch mit Tom Waits und Roberto Benigni. In kristallklarem Schwarz-Weiß von Kameramann Robby Müller gefilmt, erzählt der Film die Geschichte von drei unterschiedlichen Männern, die gemeinsam in einer Gefängniszelle in Louisiana landen. Zack (Tom Waits), ein gescheiterter Discjockey, und Jack (John Lurie), ein Zuhälter, werden beide für Verbrechen unschuldig verhaftet, während der exzentrische italienische Tourist Roberto (Roberto Benigni) wegen eines bizarren Unfalls einsitzt. Trotz anfänglicher Schwierigkeiten entsteht eine ungewöhnliche Freundschaft, die sie auf eine surreale Flucht durch die Sümpfe von Louisiana führt.

Wissenswertes

• Cannes Anerkennung: Der Film wurde für die Goldene Palme bei den Filmfestspielen von Cannes 1986 nominiert.
• Echte Romanze: Roberto Benigni und Nicoletta Braschi, deren Charaktere sich im Film verlieben, heirateten später im echten Leben.
• Märchenhafter Stil: Regisseur Jim Jarmusch gab seinem Kameramann Robby Müller die Anweisung, der Film solle "wie ein Märchen" wirken.
• Musikalische Stars: Die Hauptrollen spielen die Musiker Tom Waits und John Lurie, wobei Lurie auch den Soundtrack des Films komponierte.
• Sprachliche Improvisation: Benignis Charakter führte im Film ein Notizbuch mit amerikanischen Redewendungen – eine Angewohnheit, die er mit seiner Rolle teilte, da er während der Dreharbeiten selbst Englisch lernte.

#DownByLawFilm #JimJarmusch #TomWaits #JohnLurie #RobertoBenigni #IndependentKino #Kultfilm #Schwarzweissfilm #ArthausDVD #KinoKlassiker #IndependentSpirit