THE LIMITS OF CONTROL
The Story:
An unidentified man (Isaach De Bankolé) referred to only as the “Lone Man” in the credits, meets two men in a French airport. They ask him if he speaks Spanish. He says no. They give him general instructions to take a plane to Barcelona, spend two days and act the tourist until a man carrying a violin (Luis Tosar) contacts him.
In Barcelona, the Lone Man engages in Tai Chi, visits an outdoor café, and orders two separate espressos. He strolls through the streets of Barcelona and visits a museum. The man with the violin slips him a matchbox. The matchbox contains coded instructions to his next meeting, this time with a blonde (Tilda Swinton). A nude woman (Paz de la Huerta), apparently sent by his employers, awaits him in his ultra-modern hotel room.
They make small talk, but the Lone Man refuses to sleep with her, claiming he never has sex when he’s working. The roundelay of meditative exercise, espressos, and museum visits continues until the Lone Man receives instructions to leave Barcelona for Seville where, once again he crosses paths with the nude woman. He also receives coded instructions from an American carrying a guitar (John Hurt), who expounds on the meaning and origins of the word “Bohemian.”
The Lone Man’s peregrinations finally take him to a small, rural town, where he encounters a Mexican (Gael García Bernal) and the driver (Hiam Abbass) who will finally take him to his destination and a meeting with an American official (Bill Murray).
Starring:
Isaach De Bankolé, Alex Descas, Jean-François Stévenin, Paz de la Huerta, Tilda Swinton, Luis Tosar, John Hurt, Gael García Bernal, Bill Murray
Directed By:
Jim Jarmusch
Release Date:
2009
Watch the Trailer:
