The young, alienated Aloysius Christopher Parker has no home, no school, and no job. He wanders an empty Manhattan searching for a sense of meaning, drifting in and out of strange encounters with eccentrics and vagabonds—always keeping just ahead of whatever it is that seems to be chasing him.

Shot for just $12, 000 in grimy downtown Manhattan, Jim Jarmusch’s lo-fi, laconic debut has become an iconic example of true indie cinema. With its long takes, desolate urban setting, and interest in hip, offbeat outcasts, Permanent Vacation takes a cool and considerate look at life on the fringes.