"Down by Law" The "close relationship" of Tom Waits, John Lurie, and Roberto Benigni in black and white

An unfading charm

And although more than 30 years have passed since it was made, I think the success of this film was supported by its cast. It is Waits' masterpiece as an actor, and Benigni was already discovered by Jarmusch before he became an Oscar -winning actor for "Life is Beautiful ." And although Lurie later fell ill and is now a painter, this is also a valuable record of him at the height of his career as a musician and actor (as an aside, I still can't forget Lurie's powerful performance at a Lounge Lizards concert I saw at Tsukiji Honganji Temple in the late 1980s).

To be honest, when I first saw it, I wasn't quite sure what the film's appeal was, and was a little confused, but once I got into the rhythm of the film, I felt it had the potential to be an addictive piece of entertainment.

When Jarmusch writes a script, he does not create the story first; instead, he thinks about the dialogue and details, prioritizes these elements to develop the characters, and then creates the story last (this is the opposite of how a normal script is written).

"Down by Law" (c)1986 BLACK SNAKE Inc.

In this film, the somewhat mismatched relationship between the three strangers invites laughter from the viewer. Zach, who usually works as a DJ and talks a lot, barely speaks a word and is sulky. He is at odds with Jack, a pimp who always keeps a cool demeanor. Between them is Roberto, who doesn't speak English well, who, despite flashing an innocent smile, leaves the two confused with his somewhat off-putting answers.

The exchanges between the three in the prison look like something from a TV variety show, but the three actors have unique personalities, and there's a thrill in not knowing what's going to come out next. And while watching and laughing, "People are like that," you're drawn into the exchanges.

None of the three characters are at the center of the world, but rather walk on the fringes. But even with their foolishness, they all seem like lovable characters in the end.

By the way, "Down by Law" is street slang and apparently means "very close relationship," but the characters in this film are always a little off even when they're together. There are no strong bonds, and no betrayals. Such a strange relationship is established, but in the second half, when the character played by Benigni falls in love with the Italian owner of a diner, the whole film is enveloped in a happy atmosphere (the memorable song that plays in the scene where the lovers dance is Irma Thomas ' " It's Raining ." Nicoletta Braschi, who plays the role of his lover, is now known as Benigni's longtime partner).

The starring musicians themselves are in charge of singing (Waits) and music (Lurie), so the acting and music blend seamlessly, making the whole movie seem like an album (an analog record, no less). And when the end credits roll, you'll want to put the needle on the album again...

Text: Sawako Omori

Movie journalist. His books include "Lost Cinema" (Kawade Shobo Shinsha) and other books, and his translations include "Woody" (by D. Evanier, Kinema Junposha). Contributes to magazines such as ``Weekly Women'', ``Music Magazine'', and ``Kinema Junpo''. A research book based on the web series, `` Mini Theater Revisited, '' is also scheduled to be published.

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"Down by Law"

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Publisher: Vap

(c)1986 BLACK SNAKE Inc.