New Jim Jarmusch‘s Artwork

May 13

Actor Roberto Benigni was 34 when he filmed his part in “Coffee and Cigarettes.” He’ll be 51 when the movie finally hits U.S. screens this Friday. It took director Jim Jarmusch 17 years to finish the film, which began as a short skit for “Saturday Night Live” and evolved into a series of 11 vignettes (the first with Benigni) that revolve around conversations between different characters as they smoke cigarettes or sip coffee. The full-length film made its world premiere at the Venice International Film Festival last fall then screened to a sold-out crowd at the Toronto International Film Festival and again at the Tribeca Film Festival inNew York this month. Starting May 14, it will be released in selected theaters around the country. In between filming scenes for “Coffee and Cigarettes” over the years, Jarmusch has kept busy.

 He’s made at least a half-dozen other movies—including “Dead Man” with Johnny Depp and “Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai” with Forest Whitaker—and built up a loyal following of fans and friends, some of whom appear in the new film. The cast ranges from Bill Murray to Cate Blanchett, from rocker Iggy Pop to White Stripes frontman Jack White. NEWSWEEK’s Jennifer Barrett spoke with the 51-year-old Jarmusch from his office in New York about what took him so long to finish this film and what he’s got planned for his next project.

Taken From: http://msnbc.msn.com/id/4972055/