Do independent or auteur films have a greater potential to depict any kind of reality than classic Hollywood films? What is realism in feature films anyway? It cannot be the similarity to reality, as feature films, unlike documentaries, usually present invented, fictional content. Moreover, the audience rarely has firsthand experience of the life realities represented in a fiction (such as a specific social milieu). Nevertheless, they often make a judgment about whether a film is "realistic." So what creates the impression for the viewer that a feature film is more or less "realistic"? This text explores these questions through nine feature films by American independent director Jim Jarmusch, examining various aspects traditionally associated with realism in film.