Only Lovers Left Alive

Only Lovers Left Alive (2013)

Directed by Jim Jarmusch

123 minutes

 It was nice seeing a return from Jim Jarmusch. Watching him alter the popular vampire explosion and make his own statement. Only Lovers Left Alive uses fun gothic font in the opening and closing credits, murky cinematography and an evil doctor (Dr. Watson). Dr. Watson played convincingly by Jeffery Wright is an enjoyable and suspicious character willing to sell blood to vampiric rock musician Adam (Tom Hiddleston). Don’t let this fool you, this not a horror film reliant on blood killings or a parody. It is a refreshing love story whereby Jarmusch uses vampire mythology to transcend his organic commentary. Only Lovers Left Alive call humans “zombies” due to their infectious destruction and what Adam predicts will be the oil wars while vampires are the pacifists. In a touching moment vampire Eve (Tilda Swinton) and her wise blood supplier Marlowe (John Hurt) have a moment together before his human contamination kicks in.

Only Lovers Left Alive is a story about Adam and Eve. After a cute FaceTime moment on Eve’s iPhone (yes there is product placement in a Jarmusch film) via Adam’s vintage Skype hook-up, the two vampires decide to come together. Eve leaves Tangier to be with Adam in Detroit. His place is deliberately away from the rock ‘n’ roll kids and the music industry. Adam’s only human contact is Ian (Anton Yelchin), who brings Adam, requested outdated guitars and a specific wooden bullet. He seems to be an avenue for Adam to vent his disdain for the modern world. But after the surprise visit from Eve’s sister Ava (Mia Wasikowska), an extremely annoying but hilarious teenager rocks up to Adam’s Only Lovers Left Alive formulates drama and Jarmusch’s creativity. Ava spoils the couple’s time together, sleep patterns and is ungrateful. Things get progressively worse after Ava convinces Adam and Eve to go out and hooks up with Ian. After the inevitable blood incident occurs Ava is kicked out and told to go back to LA with the other “zombies”. The lovers continue their journey and path of existence.

Comparatively there are differences in vampires. Ava is more human in a bad sense. She is different to Marlowe Adam and Eve as organic vampires practising their respect for agriculture and living organisms through their mind, body and soul. Ava can tolerate human blood (Marlowe suffers) as a young consumer from LA and naturally wants more. During a beautiful, but separating scene Ava drink’s blood prepared by Adam and Eve, we have already seen Adam and Eve drink blood in a similar hallucinogenic way.  But Ava gulps blood and told to slow down by Eve, as if to say you should enjoy consuming this blood like fine wine.  The scene shows Ava’s bodily expression as she sinks into the sofa enjoying the moment. Costumes also reiterate a separation in ideologies and habitual meaning. Ava’s makeup, dress and white fur coat depicts a down- and- out celebrity in LA. Adam’s all black defines him an underground musician leaving in a non gentrified area of Detroit. While his non- fuss attire separates him from Ava‘s consumer culture.  Eve and Marlowe wears mythical robes that show them as whimsical and historical legends residing in Tangier (founded in early 5^th century BC). Although Eve uses an IPhone which makes her progressive in this regard and survived mentally, her character is active in her love for Adam and the past.

It is through these meanings that Jamusch plays with. Adam and Eve are the ever so cool, angelical lovers in each other’s thoughts. It is their sincerity that keeps them alive and not contaminated by the destructions of modern life.