Down by Law (1986)

7.7R107 minDirector: Jim Jarmusch

1986 film by Jim Jarmusch

Down by Law (Italian: Daunbailò) is a 1986 American independent neo-beat noir comedy film. It was written and directed by Jim Jarmusch, and stars Tom Waits, John Lurie, and Roberto Benigni (in his first American film role).

The film centers on the arrest, incarceration, and escape from jail of three men. It discards jailbreak film conventions by focusing on the interaction between the convicts rather than on the mechanics of the escape. A key element in the film is Robby Müller's slow-moving camerawork, which captures the architecture of New Orleans and the Louisiana bayou to which the cellmates escape.

Plot summary adapted from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

FAQ

What is Down by Law about?
Down by Law (1986) — DJ Zack and pimp Jack end up in prison for being too laid-back to avoid being framed for crimes they didn't commit. They end up sharing a cell with eccentric Italian optimist Roberto, whose limited command of the English language is both entertaining and infuriating. More useful
Is Down by Law based on a true story?
See the production background and source material details on the official Wikipedia article.
Is Down by Law scary?
Content rating: R. See the reviews tab for parental guidance and tone notes.