Night On Earth

Director: Jim Jarmusch (1992), Cast: Winona Ryder, Gena Rowlands, Isaach De Bankolé, Roberto Benigni. Music by: Tom Waits (R)

Jarmusch’s lovingly askew view of humanity from the passenger seat makes for one of his most charming and beloved films. This film presents five stories, each involving a cab ride on the same night, set in a different city around the world: Los Angeles, New York, Paris, Rome, and Helsinki. In Los Angeles, no-nonsense taxi driver Corky gets an engaging customer in the form of a Hollywood casting agent, while a Parisian cabbie must contend with some rowdy African diplomats. Among the other tales, a standout is the Italian taxi ride that finds quirky driver Gino making a lively confession to an ailing priest.