Routine Highlights the Joy of Subtle Change

According to a column philosopher Junichi Uchida contributed to a magazine several years ago, Immanuel Kant, while lecturing at the University of Königsberg, took a walk at the same time every day. His schedule was so precise that townspeople would set their clocks by his appearance. Uchida suggests this is quite fitting for a philosopher, explaining it as: "When one is immersed in routine, even slight changes stand out." In the same column, he also mused on Haruki Murakami's dedication to running, proposing it's to create rhythm in his life and maintain his habits—a "writer's professional consciousness aiming to highlight what has changed by not changing what is constant," which I found deeply fascinating.



Jim Jarmusch must surely be one who cherishes the beauty found in the repetition of daily life. Otherwise, a film like his latest, "Paterson," would never have been made.

The protagonist is Paterson, a bus driver living in Paterson, New Jersey. Every morning, he wakes beside his beautiful wife, Laura, usually eats breakfast alone, walks to the bus depot where he works, and drives the same bus route. His joys lie in observing the city, noticing its changes, smiling at the passengers' conversations, and quietly jotting down poems in a secret notebook during his lunch break. After returning home, he shares dinner with Laura, walks their dog, and stops for a beer at a bar along the way. His days are almost entirely this repetition.

It gives the impression that the world slowly revolves around Paterson, who possesses a strong sense of self. He simply and steadily sows seeds of awareness within himself each day. If this is what constitutes daily life, then the source of inspiration can be found anywhere, depending on oneself.



The subjects of his poems are very familiar things. For instance, a matchbox at home. Even that is a cherished part of his daily life that moves him. Watching Paterson, one can keenly feel the happiness of constancy and the gratitude for a rich heart fulfilled by simple things, amidst a world that changes at breakneck speed.

I deeply envy the talent to perceive joy through the beauty inherent in the everyday, rather than from the extraordinary or intense stimuli. He is a true artist, simply undiscovered by the world. He creates not to boast of his talent or seek recognition, but simply because the impulse arises. Perhaps this man Paterson is a reflection of director Jarmusch himself, who has consistently focused his loving gaze on depicting the lives of ordinary people.

Paterson's daily life, where no particular events unfold and no major changes occur.
After watching this film depicting it, one is filled with an indescribable sense of bliss, distinct from exhilaration or deep emotion. Yes, the happiness of encountering such a wonderful film in everyday life is precisely one of the joys this movie portrays.



****
Also noteworthy are Masatoshi Nagase, appearing in a Jarmusch film for the first time in 27 years, and Nellie, the bulldog who won the Palm Dog Award.

Paterson
Directed and Written by Jim Jarmusch
Starring: Adam Driver, Golshifteh Farahani, Masatoshi Nagase, and others
Distribution: Longride
Opening August 26 (Sat) at Human Trust Cinema Yurakucho, Human Trust Cinema Shibuya, Shinjuku Musashinokan, and other theaters nationwide.
Photo by Mary Cybulski ©2016 Inkjet Inc. All Rights Reserved.

http://paterson-movie.com


Jun Makiguchi
After working for Kyodo News, a film festival secretariat, and magazine editing, she became an independent writer. She currently writes film columns and interviews for women's and men's magazines, focusing on lifestyle topics such as fashion, food, and music depicted on screen.

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