Paris, Texas (1984)

one of Wim Wenders most heartfelt films

Director: Wim Wenders

 

Travis Henderson (Harry Dean Stanton) is dressed in a dark suit and tie, looking unshaven and disheveled. He is walking aimlessly through the Texas  desert, armed with nothing but a bottle of water. He eventually comes to an isolated store where he collapses. The local doctor finds information in his wallet that allows him to contact his brother Walt (Dean Stockwell). Walt is in L.A. and since he has not seen his brother for years since he abandoned his wife and son, he decides he must go out and rescue him.

Travis is mute and will not talk as they drive back to California. Walt takes him to his home where once again Travis meets Walt’s wife Anne (Aurore Clement). She and Walt also are the guardians of Hunter (Hunter Carson), Travis’s child.  Gradually Travis gets to know Hunter again, and Walt shows him some home movies of his brother’s former life.

Eventually, Travis and Hunter return to Texas to try to find his estranged wife Jane (Nastassja Kinski). Finally, he locates her and tries in a rather “anonymous” way to reconnect to her.

 

The music is by American guitarist and composer Ry Cooder. Photography is by Robby Muller.