Paterson (2016)

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  TheMovieDiorama

  8 / 10

  Paterson is poetic in itself as much as it is about poetry. I found this to be an extremely captivating story. We observe a week in the middle of a man's life, a bus driver who utilises the medium of poetry to express him emotions. It's a story about the harsh lows and superlative highs that each day brings and how the smallest of details can change one's perception on a certain view. Paterson, in which Adam Driver gives one heck of an understated performance, is a quiet guy. He keeps himself to himself and just bumbles along life in a routinely fashion. But there are several idiosyncrasies and symbolic traits that make him a fascinating character. He rarely expresses his feelings, and yet when he writes his poetry he is undeniably in love with his monochrome obsessed partner. Her admiration for black and white compliments his mundane life. However, in contrast her life is constantly changing and he is having to adapt to this. There's an underlying melancholic tone throughout the narrative. He knows, deep down, that he is just existing...he isn't living. But his poetry will be his legacy and will make people, perhaps in the future, remember him. Just like any other famous poet in history. I found this to be such a delight! Granted, this will not be for everyone. The pace is slow and the film is focussed on the subtext rather than what's actually happening on screen. For me, this was brilliant. Director Jim Jarmusch did a fine job, plenty on inventive and clean camera shots whether it will be shadows or reflections. Loved the on-screen text of each poem as Paterson reads them out to us, a nice visual touch. There was one thing I just couldn't grasp, and that was with the amount of twins! Why? There must be some meaning behind this that I'm missing. Maybe ever since his wife Laura dreamt about them, he unintentionally and subconsciously is focussing on twins? I don't know, but that's the beauty of the film. So many little details and idiosyncrasies that will have different meanings for different viewers.

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