Giancarlo Esposito Quote of the Month: May 2008

The unique concept behind Jim Jarmusch's Night on Earth was to connect five separate stories (all of which take place in a taxi) through their happening during the exact same hour in different parts of the world. There are some great moments here and it's one of the director's best films.

Giancarlo's segment takes place (natch) in New York City. When the only cab he can hail is driven by a newly German immigrant who has poor English and even poorer driving skills, Giancarlo's character Yoyo gets in and eventually ends up driving the cab himself to Harlem. In the meanwhile, they have a conversation as best they can.

Yoyo: "What's you name, man?"

Helmut: "Helmut Grokenberger. [pointing to his cab license] Here, you can read it. That's me."

Yoyo: "Helmet?"

Helmut: "Helmut."

Yoyo: "That's your name?"

Helmut: "Yeah."

Yoyo: "Ha ha ha ha ha. That's a fucked up name to be namin' your kid! Helmet! See, 'cause in English, a helmet would be like, you know, like something you would wear on your head, you know? You a... a helmet! Ha ha ha! In English, that would be like callin' your kid, uh, 'Lampshade' or some shit like that: 'Hey, Lampshade! Come here and clean up your room!' Ha ha ha ha ha!"

Helmut: "So, what's your name?"

Yoyo: "Yoyo."

Helmut: "What?"

Yoyo: "Yoyo. That's my name."

Helmut: "...is Ihr Name?"

Yoyo: "What? Yoyo."

Helmut: "Yoyo. Yoyo. [laughing] Yoyo. Yoyo, das ist Spielzeug für Kinder."

Yoyo: "It ain't got nothin' to do with that. It's my name. Yoyo."

Helmut: "It's a toy for kids, Yoyo."

Yoyo: "Ain't got nothin' to do with that, man."