Released by Optimum Home Entertainment on the 12th of May.
PERMANENT VACATION (1980)
Made for just $15,000, Permanent Vacation was actually rejected by the Tisch school as Jarmusch’s final thesis for being “a waste of their time”. Aloysius “Allie” Parker (Chris Parker) embarks on a thoughtful meander around a surreal, almost post-apocalyptic New York City, bored by life and inspired by the improvisational jazz of his hero Charlie Parker. Co-starring Frankie Faison and featuring the first collaboration of many between Jarmusch and Lounge Lizards’ John Lurie (soundtrack), Tim DiCillo (cinematographer), Richard Boes and Sara Driver, amongst others.
STRANGER THAN PARADISE (1984)
Structured around the Screamin’ Jay Hawkins song I Put A Spell On You, Stranger Than Paradise sees John Lurie move centre stage as New York hipster Willie who forms an unexpected bond with his young Hungarian cousin Eva (Estzer Balint) when she comes to visit him unannounced. Eva then moves to Cleveland to live with their Aunt Lotte (Cecilia Stark), and it’s almost a year later that Willie takes his best friend Eddie (Richard Edson) to see her; a visit that culminates with an eventful road trip to Florida. Winner of both the Camera D’Or at Cannes and the Special Jury Prize at Sundance on its release along with a host of other international awards.
Extras: Stranger than Paradise in Cleveland featurette (14 min)
DOWN BY LAW (1986)
DJ Zack (Tom Waits) and pimp Jack (John Lurie) end up in jail because they are too laid-back to defend themselves for crimes they didn’t actually commit. Sharing their cell is Roberto (Roberto Benigni) – a eccentric Italian optimist – who along with a poor grasp of English possesses knowledge of an escape route. After their breakout, the unlikely trio find themselves stumbling on an isolated diner in the Louisiana swamps, whose proprietor is a lonely Italian woman (Benigni’s real life wife Nicoletta Braschi).
Extras: Robby Muller Interview / Deleted Scenes / Isolated Music Track / Jim's phone calls with Tom Waits, Roberto Benigni, and John Lurie (AUDIO ONLY) / Tom Waits video of It's Alright With Me directed by Jim Jarmusch
