Thanks to Spike Lee’s Chi-Raq, Amazon has begun to receive some visibility in American movie theaters. Now, it is look to make another splash in the film world by teaming up with another well-known director. Amazon Studios will distribute Paterson, a film from indie icon Jim Jarmusch.
Paterson will star Star Wars’ Adam Driver as a bus driver named Paterson who works, coincidentally, in the city of Paterson, NJ. Golshifteh Farahani will play Paterson’s wife, and the film will examine the minutiae of their daily lives. “Paterson is a funny, philosophical and moving story that only Jim can tell. We look forward to working closely with him and supporting his vision in bringing the film to life,” said Ted Hope, Head of Motion Picture Production at Amazon Studios, in a press release. “Adam Driver is one of this generation’s most gifted actors. It’ll be exciting to see what he and Jim unearth as they explore the intimate and richly textured world of Paterson.”
Jarmusch has become well-regarded in the film industry thanks to his 35-year career as an indie darling. Many of his films, including the anthologies Night on Earth and Coffee and Cigarettes, have emerged as cult favorites.
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For Amazon, the deal with Jarmusch builds on the momentum gained by Chi-Raq’s critical success. Lee’s modern-day retelling of Lysistrata has earned plenty of praise from reviewers and could wind up with some nominations at the upcoming Academy Awards. Paterson isn’t likely to play to the awards crowd, but if Jarmusch’s track record is any indication, it will be a quiet and compelling little film. It is expected to arrive in theaters in 2016.
