A Fresh Look at the Masterpieces of Independent Cinema. To celebrate the release of Jim Jarmusch’s new film, a special screening series featuring five of his past works is set to begin.

As we mentioned in a recent news article, director Jim Jarmusch’s latest film, *Father, Mother, Sister, Brother*, will be released on Friday, November 20.

Ahead of that, it has been announced that there will be a special screening featuring five of their past films.

The lineup of five films includes *Stranger Than Paradise* (1984), *Down by Law* (1986), *Mystery Train* (1989), *Night on the Planet* (1991), and *Paterson* (2016). From his early works to his most recent films, there’s no reason not to catch up or revisit them.

"Stranger Than Paradise"
Director/Screenplay: Jim Jarmusch
Starring: John Lurie, Esther Balint, Richard Edson
1984 / 89 minutes / Black and white / Original title: STRANGER THAN PARADISE
Released in Japan: April 19, 1986
© 1984 CINESTHESIA PRODUCTIONS INC., New York. All Rights Reserved.
[【STORY] Willie, who had been living a carefree life in New York, agreed one day to take in his cousin Eva, who had come to the U.S. from Hungary at his aunt’s request. At first, the two didn’t get along, but as they spent time together, they gradually grew closer. With the addition of Willie’s best friend, Eddie, the trio’s carefree days began.

"Down by Law"
Director/Screenplay: Jim Jarmusch
Starring: Tom Waits, John Lurie, Roberto Benigni
1986 / 107 minutes / Black and white / Original title: DOWN BY LAW
Released in Japan: November 22, 1986
© COPYRIGHT 1986 BLACK SNAKE INC
[【STORY] Jack, a delinquent; Zack, a radio DJ; and Roberto, an Italian, meet in the same cell at a New Orleans prison. One day, the three of them manage to escape through a secret passage they stumbled upon. With nowhere to go once they’re free, they embark on a bizarre journey with no destination in sight.

"Mystery Train"
Director/Screenplay: Jim Jarmusch
Starring: Yuki Kudo, Masatoshi Nagase, Screamin' Jay Hawkins
1989 / 110 minutes / Color / Original Title: MYSTERY TRAIN
Released in Japan: December 23, 1989
© Mystery Train, INC. 1989
[【STORY] An anthology film set in Memphis—the city that gave birth to blues, soul, rock, and Elvis Presley—in which three stories intersect. A “one-night movie” in which the characters, each in their own location, gaze at the same night train, listen to Elvis’s “Blue Moon,” and hear a single gunshot the next morning.

"Night on the Planet"
Director/Screenplay: Jim Jarmusch
Starring: Winona Ryder, Gina Rowlands, Roberto Benigni
1991 / 128 minutes / Color / Original Title: NIGHT ON EARTH
© 1991 Locus Solus Inc.
[【STORY] Set in five cities—Los Angeles, New York, Paris, Rome, and Helsinki—this anthology-style series depicts encounters between taxi drivers and their passengers that unfold inside the cab. Under the same night sky on the same planet, Earth, a variety of stories unfold.

"Paterson"
Director/Screenplay: Jim Jarmusch
Starring: Adam Driver, Golshifteh Farahani, Barry Shabaka Henry
Photo by MARY CYBULSKI
©2016 Inkjet Inc. All Rights Reserved. © 1991 Locus Solus Inc.
Japan Release Date: August 26, 2017
[【STORY] The story of seven days in the life of a man named Patterson, who lives in the city of Patterson, New Jersey. While working as a bus driver and writing poetry, he spends his uneventful days with his wife, Laura, and his beloved dog, Marvin. The story depicts Patterson’s seemingly monotonous daily life through his interactions with unique individuals and unexpected encounters.

The film is scheduled to be released nationwide starting Friday, November 13, beginning at "Human Trust Cinema Shibuya" and other theaters. Jarmusch fans across Japan should check their local theaters for showtimes.

To commemorate this “Jim Jarmusch Retrospective 2026,” the promotional artwork has been unveiled. The design, which captures Winona Ryder from *Night on the Planet* in a charming light, is by Itiya Oshima. It reflects the meticulous attention to detail characteristic of Oshima, who has been involved in Jarmusch’s films on numerous occasions.

Age and gender don’t matter when it comes to studying Jim Jarmusch. Take this opportunity to explore his films, which can truly be called masterpieces of independent cinema. If you’ve already taken this course, let’s review it!