Mystery Train - 35mm special screening

Screened on 35 mm film, Mystery Train is Jim Jarmusch’s hauntingly poetic portrait of Memphis, Tennessee, told through three interconnected stories unfolding over a single night. The film opens with a young Japanese couple, Mitsuko and Jun, on a pilgrimage to the birthplace of rock ‘n’ roll. Their journey through the city, steeped in cultural reverence, leads them to the Arcade Hotel, setting the stage for the intertwining narratives that follow. Next, an Italian widow, Luisa, finds herself stranded in Memphis while escorting her late husband’s body back to Italy. Her encounter with a spirited young woman named Dee Dee adds layers of complexity to her grief. The final story introduces Johnny, a British expatriate, whose night spirals into chaos with his companions, culminating in a series of misadventures that reflect the film’s themes of dislocation and identity.

The film’s minimalist dialogue, combined with Robby Müller’s evocative cinematography, captures the essence of a city steeped in musical history and cultural intersections.