Paris, Texas (The Criterion Collection) (1984)

Sam Shepard, the actor-writer, wrote this beautiful film; his friend Wim Wenders directed it. This is a cinematic emotional masterpiece with a core that points straight to the things we love and says, Are we in love with them as they are, or as we imagine them to be?

The title is a perfect representation of this point; it's the town where Travis, played by Harry Dean Stanton in probably his best role on screen, was conceived and where his father said his mother was from, without giving the name of the state, only the town. Paris--as in France--is the fantasy. Paris--as in Texas--is the reality. Did his father love his mother for what she was, a plain girl from Texas, or what he imagined her to be, a "fancy woman" from France?

Travis has the same problem; he's the real focus of the film and around him the Texas twilight casts long, sad shadows that glisten with hope, brilliant colors, and soon to be approaching night. In him's a heart that's torn between his love for what he knows and for what he wants to run away from, between his son, Hunter, his ex-wife Jane, and himself. The only one of these he knows is real is his son, who's the second core of the film. Hunter is the reality of his marriage to Jane, the one thing he knows is solid and true and right in front of him.

Nobody makes films like this anymore. This was done in 1984 and deservedly won a Palmes d'Or prize at the Cannes Film Festival, one of the top awards given to a film director.

Nobody makes films with this much heart anymore. Things have changed.

Things have changed.

This film is a German-French coproduction, so it is interesting as a product of how Americans are viewed by the Europeans. Every scene seems to contain images of something that is decaying or something that is being built. Cars are everywhere. Expansive desert vistas mirror the barrenness of the main character's inner life. Motion is seen as an antidote to pain. The final confrontation between Harry Dean Stanton and Nastasia Kinski is very moving, and the plight of Stanton's character at the end of the film is heartbreaking.

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I had been aware of this film for a number of years, but had always failed to watch it. I recently checked it out of my local library and the DVD sat on top of my TV for days until I finally took the time to watch it. To be honest, I couldn't understand what all the fuss was about until toward the end of the movie; it really carries an emotional punch with it. This is not a snapshot of the beautiful America that most foreigners have of our country. There are few manicured lawns and towering mansions in this film. The characters do not lead glamourous lives; you will never see them on the covers of magazines in the check-out lines in the supermarket. But it took a German filmmaker to create a visually stunning portrait of a side of America that few people ever really see, especially in the usual films that you rent at your local video store. There is so much sadness, regret, pain and utter desolation in this film and it's oftentimes reflected in the vast landscape of the American Southwest. Do yourself a favor today and watch this film. Its characters and story and music will stay with you long after you watch the ending credits!

Read Best Reviews of Paris, Texas (The Criterion Collection) (1984) Here

Paris,Texas is one of the best films of the 80's and it deservedly won a prize at the Cannes Film Festival in 1984. This is a film that takes it's time developing it's characters and is not concerned with delivering a intricate story line. Instead, the film concerns itself with exploring intricate emotions. It is a painful story about loss, alienation, and the need to reconcile with the past. Director Wim Wenders, Writer Sam Shepard,and Cinematographer Robby Muller all did splendid work with this film. The music by Ry Cooder is also excellent and perfect for the film. The acting is what stands out the most though. The performances in this film are some of the best I have ever seen and that is the biggest reason the film has such a powerful emotional impact. The film remains truthful and believable from start to finish. You wont find any sentimentality or sensationalism in this film. Paris,Texas is a film that is both hauntingly beautiful and achingly sad. It's a film that makes us question our collective ideals, particularly materialism, and makes a moving statement about the power of the family. It saddens me that this film isn't as appreciated as it should be. Paris,Texas is a perfect example of what films should be. I hope it emerges on DVD soon.

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Wim Wenders' remarkable film is preserved in a wonderful widescreen format. Special features include commentary from Wenders, deleted scenes, and a short film depicting the actors making an entry into Cannes, where the film won top honors in the early 80s. Harry Dean Stanton's Travis wanders on foot through southern Texas and Mexico for four years following a devastating breakup with his wife Jane. Jane, at one time a wild spirit who sought a life of adventure, leaves their son, Hunter, with Travis' brother and sister-in-law. The film depicts Travis' return from his emotional abyss and his attempts to reunite his family. This is a story of guilt, remorse, and loneliness, which confronts honestly the complexities facing a shattered family.

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