TIFF favorite Paterson has unveiled its debut trailer, placing Adam Driver behind the wheel as the titular, deeply curious protagonist.
For Driver, Jim Jarmusch’s poignant drama represents a radical departure from the big-budget action of Disney’s Star Wars universe, but according to the stellar reviews coming out of Toronto, that’s a creative risk that has paid off dividends with many hailing Driver’s turn as the everyday bus driver in Paterson, New Jersey. He leads a fairly normal life – writing poems, walking his dog and spending time with his loving wife, Goldshiftheh Farahani. But it’s Paterson’s ability to extract beauty from everyday situations that really lends Driver’s character his sense of being, as he revels in everyday pleasures in a narrative that could have so easily become a humdrum slog.
As our verdict from TIFF attests, that’s certainly not the case; Paterson is an accomplished, understated drama that drops everything else to zero in on what makes its characters – and, by effect, us – tick as we navigate the mundane elements of modern life.
Here’s the overview:
Every day, Paterson adheres to a simple routine: he drives his daily route, observing the city as it drifts across his windshield and overhearing fragments of conversation swirling around him; he writes poetry into a notebook; he walks his dog; he stops in a bar and drinks exactly one beer; he goes home to his wife, Laura.
By contrast, Laura’s world is ever changing. New dreams come to her almost daily, each a different and inspired project. Paterson loves Laura and she loves him. He supports her newfound ambitions; she champions his gift for poetry.
Amazon and Bleecker Street have aligned Paterson for theatrical release on December 28, possibly sensing awards potential. Stay tuned for more.