Among the many moments that define Buffalo ’66, a film by Vincent Gallo, the phrase ‘spanning time’ stands out as haunting, poetic, and deeply symbolic. This 1998 indie classic has been remembered for its raw emotion, unorthodox narrative, and gritty aesthetics, but it’s the phrase ‘spanning time’ uttered by Billy Brown in a quiet, almost meditative scene that resonates most with viewers long after the film ends. More than a line of dialogue, it captures the central theme of the film: the longing to connect, to belong, and to find meaning in the stillness between moments. In this topic, we dive deep into how Buffalo ’66 uses spanning time to encapsulate love, regret, and identity.
The World of Buffalo ’66
Buffalo ’66 tells the story of Billy Brown, recently released from prison, who kidnaps a tap dancer named Layla and forces her to pretend to be his wife during a visit to his emotionally abusive parents. What unfolds is not a traditional romance, but rather a slow-burning connection between two damaged individuals learning to be vulnerable. The film is deeply rooted in Buffalo, New York, and blends Gallo’s autobiographical elements with a stylized, dreamlike atmosphere.
What ‘Spanning Time’ Means in the Film
One of the most memorable scenes occurs in a photo booth, where Billy and Layla sit together after hours of awkwardness and tension. Billy begins to talk about how he’s always wanted to take pictures in a booth with someone he loves, someone he can ‘span time’ with. It’s an awkward phrase, but one that perfectly captures his yearning to find someone who will be with him through life’s monotony and milestones. He doesn’t use the words grow old together or share a life he says span time.
This phrase, in its simplicity and oddity, expresses a unique and desperate need for permanence. Billy is not interested in moments of fleeting passion or superficial connection. What he wants is a companion to endure time with a witness to his existence, someone to validate his life by simply being present through it. In the context of the film, this desire is more profound than declarations of love.
Why the Phrase Resonates with Viewers
The phrase has taken on a life of its own among fans of the film. It resonates because it reflects a feeling many people have but often don’t know how to articulate: the desire not just to find love, but to be seen and to make sense of life by sharing it with someone. In a world of quick relationships and short attention spans, ‘spanning time’ suggests patience, stillness, and long-term commitment not in the romanticized sense, but in the deeply human need to not be alone.
- Spanning time is about emotional endurance, not just companionship.
- It implies shared memory, collective experience, and mutual vulnerability.
- The awkward phrasing underlines Billy’s emotional immaturity and authenticity.
- The scene is framed in a static photo booth, symbolizing moments suspended in time.
How the Film’s Style Supports Its Themes
Vincent Gallo’s direction and cinematography choices reinforce the concept of spanning time. Long takes, muted color palettes, and uncomfortable silences force the audience to slow down and experience time as the characters do. The editing avoids conventional pacing, allowing small gestures and glances to carry emotional weight. Time is not just a backdrop it becomes a living, breathing presence in the film.
The film also plays with flashbacks and fantasies, further blurring the lines between time past, present, and imagined. In Billy’s mind, time has stalled. He’s emotionally trapped in the moment he was imprisoned, the moment he missed the Buffalo Bills’ Super Bowl loss, the moment his life veered off course. By meeting Layla, he slowly begins to reenter real time through connection, through vulnerability, through the hope of something lasting.
Character Development and Time
Time affects each character differently. Billy is stuck in his own bitterness and regret, while Layla moves fluidly between being naà ve and insightful. Layla’s willingness to go along with Billy’s bizarre plan eventually becomes her quiet rebellion against her own loneliness. The two characters, though strangers, gradually start to feel like a natural fit not because of grand romantic gestures, but because of their mutual understanding of time and solitude.
Their shared silence in the photo booth, and later in the motel room, does more to develop their relationship than any dialogue could. It’s in those moments that spanning time feels real, raw, and undeniably emotional. The audience isn’t given a dramatic love story. Instead, we witness two people slowly deciding to be in each other’s company without expectations, just presence.
The Cultural Legacy of Spanning Time
Though Buffalo ’66 is over two decades old, the concept of spanning time continues to pop up in pop culture discussions, fan art, and even tattoos. The line has become a quiet anthem for those who see love as something slow-burning and enduring rather than immediate and flashy. It appeals to romantics, introverts, and anyone who finds meaning in simply existing with someone else.
In a digital age where attention spans are shrinking and relationships often move too fast, the message behind spanning time feels more relevant than ever. It calls for patience, stillness, and appreciation of the present. The idea is not about eternal bliss, but shared experience being together through the mundane, the painful, and the beautiful.
Why the Scene Still Matters
The photo booth scene works because it’s quiet, unpolished, and painfully human. Billy’s nervous monologue and Layla’s soft encouragement show the start of emotional trust. It doesn’t end in a kiss or dramatic confession. It ends in stillness a perfect depiction of what it means to span time with someone.
That stillness, that willingness to be with someone without needing to perform or impress, is at the core of the film. And in that way, Buffalo ’66 captures something rare: a vision of love that is less about fireworks and more about patience, presence, and perseverance.
Spanning time may not be a phrase you hear in everyday conversations, but in the world of Buffalo ’66, it defines the emotional truth of its characters. It reminds us that love doesn’t always come with declarations or perfect timing. Sometimes, love means choosing to exist with someone, minute by minute, frame by frame. The film’s unique portrayal of this concept has cemented its place as a cult classic and given audiences a phrase that captures something too big for ordinary words. Through its rough edges and vulnerable silences, Buffalo ’66 offers one of cinema’s most understated yet powerful expressions of human connection.