Permanent Vacation

A road film of sorts about an alienated youth who wanders the deserted streets of New York City meeting a variety of people, and visiting his girl friend and his ailing mother. The film presents its characters in a series of vignettes rather than in a traditional story. While it gives evidence of cinematic skill, it has a tendency to draw attention to its film-school parentage. Jim Jarmusch, a former NYU student, produced the 16mm film on a miniscule budget. After befriending Nicholas Ray and Wim Wenders, Jarmusch pieced together a similar but far more successful picture, STRANGER THAN PARADISE, featuring John Lurie. Lurie, who is blessed with one of the most photo...