 The film had its domestic premiere at the 27th New York Film Festival in 1989 , thereby emulating the director 's previous features Stranger Than Paradise in 1984 , and Down by Law in 1986 . The Miami Herald declared it the " quiet triumph " of the festival . The film was picked up for theatrical distribution by Orion Classics in the United States , where it was released under an R @-@ rating due to scenes featuring brief nudity and mild profanity . Its total domestic gross was $ 1 @,@ 541 @,@ 218 , making it the 153rd highest @-@ grossing film of 1989 , and the 70th highest R @-@ rated film of the year . Internationally , it was first shown in competition at the 1989 Cannes Film Festival on May 13 and 14 , 1989 , and subsequently featured in the Edinburgh , London , Midnight Sun , Telluride and Toronto film festivals . 
