Director JIM JARMUSCH followed up his brilliant breakout Stranger Than Paradise with another, equally beloved portrait of loners and misfits in America.
When fate lands three hapless men—an unemployed disc jockey (Short Cuts’ TOM WAITS), a small-time pimp (Fishing with John’s JOHN LURIE), and a strong willed Italian tourist (Life Is Beautiful’s ROBERTO BENIGNI)—in a Louisiana prison, a singular adventure begins. Described by Jarmusch as a “neo-Beat noir comedy,” Down by Law is part nightmare and part fairy tale, featuring sterling performances and crisp black-and-white photography by esteemed cinematographer ROBBY MÜLLER (Paris, Texas).
BONUS FEATURES DIRECTOR-APPROVED SPECIAL EDITION FEATURES
High-definition digital restoration, with uncompressed monaural soundtrack
Thoughts and reflections on the making of the film from director Jim Jarmusch in 2002
Interview with director of photography Robby Müller from 2002
Footage from the 1986 Cannes Film Festival, including a press conference featuring Jarmusch and actors John Lurie, Roberto Benigni, and Nicoletta Braschi, and an interview with Lurie, with commentary
Sixteen outtakes
Music video for Tom Waits’s cover of Cole Porter’s “It’s All Right with Me,” directed by Jarmusch
Q&A with Jarmusch in which he responds to fans’ questions
Recordings of phone conversations between Jarmusch and Waits, Benigni, and Lurie
Production Polaroids and location stills
Isolated music track
Optional French dub track, featuring Benigni
Trailer
PLUS: An essay by critic Luc Sante