I read this film as a lot more optimistic and romantic, which I think lines up with with Jarmusch and Tilda say in interviews about it... to oversimply, as an anti-suicide film. Adam is struggling with ennui and despair given the behaviour of humans, while Eve is always open to noticing beauty and enjoying it - she rebukes him for not dancing, etc. Even when lamenting how Ava has smashed Adam's beautiful guitar, Eve can't help but exclaim at how beautifully-constructed the inside it. (She also has a longer view then Adam, and having lived through the Dark Ages, know societies go through cycles of collapse and renewal.) At the end of the film, Adam is electrified when he encounters the music in the Lebanese singer Yasmine, which shows that new and vital creativity will always emerge. They choose to do what they need to survive at the end - they actively choose life, instead of collapsing in passive despair - and even the violence they inflict on the young couple is really just the gift of immortality.
Love this insight, I always thought them feeding on the lovers at the end was them stooping down to zombies’ level - reverting back to a crass, primitive way of surviving. But yeah, them choosing life and gifting the lovers with immortality is a way better interpretation 😊
The day I saw this movie in theatres, a nearby pub was changing the taps and gave me free beer. Then I had a ten minute conversation with a stranger about a holiday in Cyprus, we went into the cinema and never saw each other again. Very Jarmusch.
This was such a beautiful movie. I felt it was more about a long term relationship told under the guise of vampirism. You can easily grow apart as time goes on, either holding on to the glory days and becoming stagnant or shooting forward hand in hand to face the new world. I love your assessment and agree, though
Interesting, I always thought at the end they were drinking the blood of the lovers, not creating new vampires. This has given me a new perspective on how to think about this film, thank you!
Adam said (paraphrasing) "Just turning. Not killing." and then they picked which one. Adam wanted the girl. Also everything thematically that built up to that point.
They are vampires precisly just because value love and long term commitment. That is why they are immortal. Thus when they bite they are doing others a favour actually
Love love love this movie, i got my second tattoo, a mushroom because of one scene in the movie. The movie is like a big meditation and i personally aspire to be like eve.
I’ve watched this film (jarmusch) around 20-25 times and the incredible thing is every time I notice something new or I am able to concentrate better on a certain piece of dialogue.
Little known fact... Tilda Swinton IS an actual vampire! This is not a joke. She is 58-years-old, but looks in her 30s. Some may argue, she looks even younger.
Fantastic analysis. This was the film that finally overtook Let the Right One In as my favorite vampire film, and despite how many times I've watched it, you got me to see things I never noticed. Never stop Leon!
Noticed how Adam's Jaguar engine sounds different. As if he modified the engine into non-combustion or some kind of tech that only he knows and won't share to anyone. The same tech also powered his house. Maybe once in the past Adam was an inventor or brilliant scientist and have had tried to teach/share his technology/science to enlighten humanity but failed. That also explain his frustration as he deemed humanity as unworthy. Contrary to Adam, Eve is so immersed in poet/art/history. She reads Arabic literature and many foreign languages/non-english books. In a way Eve is enlighten, compassion and wise. That explain her vibrant and hopefulness toward humanity. However both can sense vibes from antique musical instruments.
In my opinion the finale also shows us how hypocritical they are. The only reason they turn the young couple is because they're hungry. Needing for blood, they reveal the actual predators inside themselves. They need humanity to survive, so this new world they are building is already based on even worse violence.
Well maybe, but I would not call that hypocritical. The need the blood and just as humans do they have a survival instinct. As a starving human would go beyond their morals and values to prevent their death, so do adam and eve. At least this is how I see it.
People who are interested in culture and claim the past was a better time, are obviously not thinking much. Just remember how much less culture we had access to without the internet. This alone makes the 21st century a better time, no matter how bad modern popculture often is.
It also depends, the internet can be seen as the library of alexandria. But not everyone who refers to the past as a better times has automatically be "not thinking much". They often refer to the interpersonal communication and a world prior to technology. Of course it is unthinkable now, but I think every time period always has good things that get forgotten. But we should always be grateful of what we have now and never yearn to go back. Just my opinion
I wonder if Tom Hiddleston got triggered by that plot point, since he's such a huge Shakespeare mark. I'd imagine he doesn't cotton to those conspiracy theories IRL.
@@ToruKun1 this is EXACTLY what I thought, I couldn't stop laughing. But then again, I suppose he is a fan of Shakespeare's works, so the product is what matters in the end.
I love this movie, its strange. since at the start I thought watching it was a waste of time cuz it's not have a clearly point to tell. But I couldn't stop thinking about this movie. It's like he calls me to come back.
But is funny to think about our immortal egos and soul in this world thus still wanting a forever happy ending story, immortality comes to play They are vampires precisly just because value love and long term commitment. That is why they are immortal. Thus when they bite they are doing others a favour actually
Where is it indicated in the film that their intention is to turn the Tangier lovers into vampires? The sister's bite didn't turn her drink, Iain, into a vampire. I thought that they sucked the lover's blood simply because they were starving.
This is definitely my favorite American Channel, I love your readings on the movies. I do gotta add that OLLA has a visual dialogue with Jung's Mandalas and the vampires may even represent the "collective subconscious" (have only read in Portuguese, sorry if the term is not right). That would figuratively show that evolution comes from overcoming the past, not by compulsion over the past, but with maturity. I do feel compelled to also say that all the elements of nostalgia in this movie is American or European, and the elements of mature contemplation are Islamic, this could mean that the happiness also requires overcoming this eurocentric (and North American centrism) for a more multi cultured and prolific world view.
I had the impression that Adam was the older one ... the way they act when they meet up suggested to me that he turned her and thus he has to be older.
Even though I acknowledge on an intellectual level that this movie is good, I couldn't stand it due to how much I loathed the Adam character. Have you ever heard of the movie GAP by Paul O from the radio show Ron and Fez? Louis CK did a hilarious take-down of the film on Opie and Anthony and it's on UA-cam. All Paul O's character does in that movie (besides kill people in really shoddily filmed segments) is bitch about the record industry and OH why isn't it called the record industry anymore??? Adam from OLLA does the same fucking shit. This film is basically a far more competent version of GAP. Also Adam and Eve's (and Eva's) hair is godawful. Dirty matted white people hair. What's up with that?
@@iridescent_kitty I thought they gave them animal hair wigs to convey they don't bathe (or maybe they can't bathe because in some vampire lore, one of their weaknesses includes running water).
ToruKun1 oohhh makes sense. that does gives the look another layer of meaning. btw, here's the interview i was referencing (jarmusch: “I wanted them to have wild hair, I wanted them to look partly animalistic and even behave like half animals and half very sophisticated humans.") www.indiewire.com/2013/10/nyff-13-jim-jarmusch-and-tilda-swinton-on-only-lovers-left-alive-creating-their-own-vampire-mythology-and-why-hollywood-film-music-is-boring-34045/
I read this film as a lot more optimistic and romantic, which I think lines up with with Jarmusch and Tilda say in interviews about it... to oversimply, as an anti-suicide film.
Adam is struggling with ennui and despair given the behaviour of humans, while Eve is always open to noticing beauty and enjoying it - she rebukes him for not dancing, etc. Even when lamenting how Ava has smashed Adam's beautiful guitar, Eve can't help but exclaim at how beautifully-constructed the inside it. (She also has a longer view then Adam, and having lived through the Dark Ages, know societies go through cycles of collapse and renewal.)
At the end of the film, Adam is electrified when he encounters the music in the Lebanese singer Yasmine, which shows that new and vital creativity will always emerge. They choose to do what they need to survive at the end - they actively choose life, instead of collapsing in passive despair - and even the violence they inflict on the young couple is really just the gift of immortality.
You are spot on with every point. Adam finally sees the passage of time as a good thing.
Immortality is not a gift.
@@shubhanshimishra8889I wouldn’t mind it, personally
Love this insight, I always thought them feeding on the lovers at the end was them stooping down to zombies’ level - reverting back to a crass, primitive way of surviving. But yeah, them choosing life and gifting the lovers with immortality is a way better interpretation 😊
Tom Hiddleston is such a fantastic actor and I adore this film. It got me into movies.
I here because Jim Jarmusch, BUT I agree with you tho about his such great actor.
The day I saw this movie in theatres, a nearby pub was changing the taps and gave me free beer. Then I had a ten minute conversation with a stranger about a holiday in Cyprus, we went into the cinema and never saw each other again. Very Jarmusch.
This was such a beautiful movie. I felt it was more about a long term relationship told under the guise of vampirism.
You can easily grow apart as time goes on, either holding on to the glory days and becoming stagnant or shooting forward hand in hand to face the new world.
I love your assessment and agree, though
Interesting, I always thought at the end they were drinking the blood of the lovers, not creating new vampires. This has given me a new perspective on how to think about this film, thank you!
Yeah, it's been a bit since I last watched it, but I can't think of any reason to assume they were turning them.
Adam said (paraphrasing) "Just turning. Not killing." and then they picked which one. Adam wanted the girl.
Also everything thematically that built up to that point.
Wait a minute,they don't turn them into vampires ,they drink their blood !!!!!!???????
They are vampires precisly just because value love and long term commitment. That is why they are immortal. Thus when they bite they are doing others a favour actually
Love love love this movie, i got my second tattoo, a mushroom because of one scene in the movie. The movie is like a big meditation and i personally aspire to be like eve.
Definitely one of the most sophisticated of vampire films .
I’ve watched this film (jarmusch) around 20-25 times and the incredible thing is every time I notice something new or I am able to concentrate better on a certain piece of dialogue.
Little known fact... Tilda Swinton IS an actual vampire! This is not a joke. She is 58-years-old, but looks in her 30s. Some may argue, she looks even younger.
So, I went to google because I was going to respond to you in a cheeky way... my mouth dropped. HOW!?!? That's insane... what the hell.
Fact? Produce it
God that bit about water becoming commodified and fought over like oil hits different now
I'm surprised you didn't mention the yin and yang symbolism
Fantastic analysis. This was the film that finally overtook Let the Right One In as my favorite vampire film, and despite how many times I've watched it, you got me to see things I never noticed. Never stop Leon!
Just found you by accident and I like your interpretation of Only Lovers Left Alive. One of the best films made in the 20th century.
It was made in the 21st century.
I adore this film, I will never get tired of watching it ❤
Jim Jarmusch is one of America's greatest filmmakers that no one has heard of
Noticed how Adam's Jaguar engine sounds different. As if he modified the engine into non-combustion or some kind of tech that only he knows and won't share to anyone. The same tech also powered his house. Maybe once in the past Adam was an inventor or brilliant scientist and have had tried to teach/share his technology/science to enlighten humanity but failed. That also explain his frustration as he deemed humanity as unworthy.
Contrary to Adam, Eve is so immersed in poet/art/history. She reads Arabic literature and many foreign languages/non-english books. In a way Eve is enlighten, compassion and wise. That explain her vibrant and hopefulness toward humanity.
However both can sense vibes from antique musical instruments.
In my opinion the finale also shows us how hypocritical they are. The only reason they turn the young couple is because they're hungry. Needing for blood, they reveal the actual predators inside themselves. They need humanity to survive, so this new world they are building is already based on even worse violence.
Well maybe, but I would not call that hypocritical. The need the blood and just as humans do they have a survival instinct. As a starving human would go beyond their morals and values to prevent their death, so do adam and eve. At least this is how I see it.
@@janovictorjayden6521 agree with the OP but also your comment fulfills my feelings on the ending!
People who are interested in culture and claim the past was a better time, are obviously not thinking much. Just remember how much less culture we had access to without the internet. This alone makes the 21st century a better time, no matter how bad modern popculture often is.
Love the way you look at the world
The point still remains that the only thing we can do now, culturewise, is to look back.
It also depends, the internet can be seen as the library of alexandria. But not everyone who refers to the past as a better times has automatically be "not thinking much". They often refer to the interpersonal communication and a world prior to technology. Of course it is unthinkable now, but I think every time period always has good things that get forgotten. But we should always be grateful of what we have now and never yearn to go back. Just my opinion
4:53 still a better use of that theory than Roland Emmerich's Anonymous
Quite the low hanging fruit if you ask me.
I wonder if Tom Hiddleston got triggered by that plot point, since he's such a huge Shakespeare mark. I'd imagine he doesn't cotton to those conspiracy theories IRL.
@@ToruKun1 this is EXACTLY what I thought, I couldn't stop laughing. But then again, I suppose he is a fan of Shakespeare's works, so the product is what matters in the end.
I love this movie, its strange. since at the start I thought watching it was a waste of time cuz it's not have a clearly point to tell. But I couldn't stop thinking about this movie. It's like he calls me to come back.
Jeffrey Wright’s small role was enjoyably funny
Best vampire movie in a long time
You drank, Ian!
"Only Lefters Love a Life" is very good!
I adore this film. Tilda and Tom are wonderful in it. 🌹🌹
But is funny to think about our immortal egos and soul in this world thus still wanting a forever happy ending story, immortality comes to play
They are vampires precisly just because value love and long term commitment. That is why they are immortal. Thus when they bite they are doing others a favour actually
Adam lives in Detroit and assumes the world is turning sht. No sht,,its his fault for living in Detroit
Where is it indicated in the film that their intention is to turn the Tangier lovers into vampires? The sister's bite didn't turn her drink, Iain, into a vampire. I thought that they sucked the lover's blood simply because they were starving.
At the end of the film. They explicitly discuss it and then do it. Also everything in the film thematically builds to it.
I love your videos !!! they're really smart and well made
Very interesting analysis. Wonderful.
I loved this analysis!
Thank you for this
This is definitely my favorite American Channel, I love your readings on the movies. I do gotta add that OLLA has a visual dialogue with Jung's Mandalas and the vampires may even represent the "collective subconscious" (have only read in Portuguese, sorry if the term is not right). That would figuratively show that evolution comes from overcoming the past, not by compulsion over the past, but with maturity. I do feel compelled to also say that all the elements of nostalgia in this movie is American or European, and the elements of mature contemplation are Islamic, this could mean that the happiness also requires overcoming this eurocentric (and North American centrism) for a more multi cultured and prolific world view.
Well done
Can i know the background music ?
I'm sorry, but I don't remember. I make a new video every week, and this is a couple years old.
@@renegadecut9875 its okay ! Thank you anyway
I had the impression that Adam was the older one ... the way they act when they meet up suggested to me that he turned her and thus he has to be older.
She’s 3000 years old, he’s 500
Why are the wigs so dusty and bad, I wonder.
They are not dusty and bad.
They are made from human hair and animal fur purposely to showcase the wild feel of vampires.
gd stuff.
💖👍
Even though I acknowledge on an intellectual level that this movie is good, I couldn't stand it due to how much I loathed the Adam character. Have you ever heard of the movie GAP by Paul O from the radio show Ron and Fez? Louis CK did a hilarious take-down of the film on Opie and Anthony and it's on UA-cam. All Paul O's character does in that movie (besides kill people in really shoddily filmed segments) is bitch about the record industry and OH why isn't it called the record industry anymore??? Adam from OLLA does the same fucking shit. This film is basically a far more competent version of GAP. Also Adam and Eve's (and Eva's) hair is godawful. Dirty matted white people hair. What's up with that?
ToruKun1 iirc they made wigs out of animal hair/fur to convey the sense that these vampires are something other/not fully human
@@iridescent_kitty I thought they gave them animal hair wigs to convey they don't bathe (or maybe they can't bathe because in some vampire lore, one of their weaknesses includes running water).
ToruKun1 oohhh makes sense. that does gives the look another layer of meaning.
btw, here's the interview i was referencing (jarmusch: “I wanted them to have wild hair, I wanted them to look partly animalistic and even behave like half animals and half very sophisticated humans.")
www.indiewire.com/2013/10/nyff-13-jim-jarmusch-and-tilda-swinton-on-only-lovers-left-alive-creating-their-own-vampire-mythology-and-why-hollywood-film-music-is-boring-34045/
This movie is just a long, unoriginal, list of names of people from the past, dropped by two bored (and boring) hipsters.
I like it cuz vibing and imagining yea it’d be boring to live so long.