Synopsis

Zack is an out of work DJ, busted with a body in the trunk of a stolen car he was trying to cross the state in. Jack, a Pimp, is arrested for recruiting a minor. Roberto is an Italian tourist arrested for murdering a man while playing cards. They are housed in the same prison cell, and Roberto convinces the other two to escape. They succeed, only to be lost in the bayou. It is not until they find the home of an Italian immigrant, that they learn to appreciate beauty in the world.

Awards & Nominations

Winner - Amanda Awards, Norway - Best Foreign Feature Film
Winner - Bodil Awards - Best Non-European Film
Nominee - Cannes Film Festival - Golden Palm 
Nominee - Independent Spirit Awards - Best Cinematography/ Best Director/ Best Feature/ Best Male Lead
Nominee - Italian National Syndicate of Film Journalists - Silver Ribbon Best Actor
Winner - Robert Festival - Robert  Best Foreign Film

Comments

If you don't know anything about Jarmusch, this DVD is a great place to start.Matt Langdon
Filmcritic.com 
At 90 minutes, it felt entirely too long, but would I have wanted Jarmusch to trim it down at all? That would have killed his best jokes.ToxicUniverse.com

Trivia

Pruitt Taylor Vince filmed some scenes that were cut before release.

Nicoletta Braschi, who plays the Italian woman, is Roberto Benigni's wife in real life.

Co-star Tom Waits referred to the film as "a Russian neo-fugitive episode of The Honeymooners."

Roberto Benigni's rabbit soliloquy was almost entirely self-written/improvisation, based on his own life experiences. His mother actually did raise rabbits.

Only Jim Jarmusch film made with "American money" as Jarmusch himself calls it. He says that he prefers not to have his films funded by Americans because there are too many "strings attached".

Roberto Benigni's line "It's a sad and beautiful world" was the result of a misunderstanding. The script read "That's sad and beautiful music", but Benigni said "It's a sad and beautiful word", but Waits and Jarmusch misheard it and though he said "WORLD", and so, the line stuck.

Jim Jarmusch had intended that the shack that the fugitives find refuge in after escaping prison would have bunk beds, so as to make it look exactly like the prison cell. Incredibly, they found a shack were two bunk beds were already standing, so no extra furniture had to be added.

Trailer