Permanent Vacation (1980)

A young slacker wanders New York City searching for some meaning in life and encounters many idiosyncratic characters.

Director:

Jim Jarmusch

Writer:

Jim Jarmusch

Stars:

Chris Parker, Leila Gastil, John Lurie

1 win.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Chris Parker	...	Allie
Leila Gastil	...	Leila
John Lurie	...	Sax player
Richard Boes	...	War vet
Sara Driver	...	Nurse
Charlie Spademan	...	Patient
Jane Fire	...	Nurse
Ruth Bolton	...	Mother
Evelyn Smith	...	Patient
María Duval	...	Latin girl
Lisa Rosen	...	Popcorn girl
Frankie Faison	...	Man in lobby
Suzanne Fletcher	...	Girl in car
Felice Rosser	...	Woman by mailbox
Eric Mitchell	...	Car fence

Storyline

In downtown Manhattan, a twenty-something boy ('Chris Parker' )whose Father is not around and whose Mother is institutionalized, is a big Charlie Parker fan. He almost subconsciously searches for more meaning in his life and meets a few characters along the way.

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Plot Keywords:

new york city | slacker | graffiti | directorial debut | saxophonist | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

26 July 1986 (Japan)

Also Known As:

Dauernd Ferien

Filming Locations:

New York City, New York, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Cinesthesia Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

75 min 80 min (Buenos Aires Festival Internacional de Cine Independiente)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The Doppler Effect mentioned by the man in the lobby ('Frank Faison'), is the change in a sound (frequency and wavelength) noticed by an observer as a sound source moves relative to the observer.

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Goofs

Allie stands in the middle of the room to talk to Leila, but the close shot shows his back closer to the wall.

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Quotes

Allie: [reading from a book] She has dropped a roll of paper from her breast. A stranger picks it up, shuts himself in his room all night, and reads the manuscript, which contains the following: When she ventured out with her silk net, on the end of a russ, chasing the wild, free hummingbird. Send me one and I, in return, will wreath a garland of violets, mint, and geraniums. I was not present at the event of which my daughter's death was the result. If I had been, I would have defended that angel at ...

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Connections

Featured in The King of Comedy (1982)

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Soundtracks

"Sally, Go 'Round the Roses"
Written by Zell Sanders and Abner Spector
Performed by The Jaynetts

User Reviews

Assured first film

Assured first film from Jarmusch is pretty tough viewing to begin with. Slow moving or not moving at all and ponderous, seeming inconsequential dialogue but then somewhere along the line we find ourselves captivated. Beautifully shot with ugly/beautiful still shots of back streets of New York. Apart from a scene showing the lead guy spray painting a sub title for the film and thereby seeming to plant the film within the late 70s or 80s, the rest of the 'action' gives more the impression of taking place in the late 60s/early 70s. It may well be that Jarmusch has not set the film in the past but that his cinematic influences are from that period. In any event this is well worth a watch and as with all the man's films there is a fiercely compassionate element. Even when the characters appear completely unappealing, we are somehow encouraged to feel some degree of empathy.