Permanent Vacation

Wednesday, July 1 - Sunday, July 5, 2026

Another remarkable first movie — by the now legendary Jim Jarmusch — PERMANENT VACATION captured the Lower East Side zeitgeist of New York City in this expression of “No Wave” artistic ferment. The film’s central figure, Aloysius Christopher Parker (aka “Allie”), is a picaresque character, seemingly without a home or a job. His wandering may appear aimless, but he’s possibly or symbolically searching – consciously or not — for meaning. Do the empty streets of Manhattan signify a deeper existential emptiness? That is the question. Vincent Canby, then the influential New York Times film critic, proclaimed the film a “must-see for anyone who shares the belief that Mr. Jarmusch is the most arresting and original American film maker to come out of the 1980s.” Jarmusch continues to experiment, each new movie an exploration for him and a discovery for his audiences.

Screening as part of our series Declaration of Independents!

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• Country USA
• Year 1980
• Running Time 75 minutes
• Format DCP
• Distributor IndieCollect
• Director Jim Jarmusch
• Cast Chris Parker, John Lurie, Eric Mitchell, Sara Driver
• Accessibility Assistive Listening, T-Coil

IFC Center does not generally provide advisories about subject matter or potentially triggering content in films, as sensitivities vary from person to person. In addition to the synopses, trailers and other links on our website, further information about content and age-appropriateness for specific films can be found on Common Sense Media, IMDb and DoesTheDogDie.com as well as through general internet searches.