Paris, Texas - The Myth of Modern America
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- Опубліковано 23 лис 2024
- In this thought-provoking video essay, we delve into Wim Wenders' masterpiece 'Paris, Texas' and its poignant critique of the American mythos. Explore how Wenders subverts the road movie genre, challenging the idealized vision of the American dream.
Discover the profound commentary on the post-Vietnam generation's struggles with parenthood and the disillusionment that followed. Through stunning cinematography and haunting performances, 'Paris, Texas' unravels the myth of modern America.
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#ParisTexas #WimWenders #FilmAnalysis #Filmmaking #VideoEssay #Cinema #Cinematography
This movie reminds me of my fiancé who passed away last year. He was insistent that he had to move out to the Midwest and felt we needed to get out of the city and out of Texas. The reality was that he was just running away from family and inner turmoil. He had prior issues with addiction, but moving to a small, rural town didn’t turn out to be therapeutic in the way he imagined. He relapsed hard and is now underground. You can’t run from your past nor your problems forever. 😔
Thank you for sharing your story, I’m sorry for you loss
I hope you are healing
@@thomasdeeter3679
Thank you so much. Admittedly, I still have a long way to go. The depression can get to a point of near catatonia. It’s frightening as I’m usually quite active.
Hopefully I get myself out of this cycle. It’s rather frustrating, but that anger is sometimes one of the few things keeping me going. Sounds weird, I know, but if it gets me out of bed I’ll take it. 😉
@@misstekheadI'm sorry for this very painful experience you have and are going through. I heard this phrase at AA: "You didn't cause it, you can't cure it, and you can't control it.." Wish you the best 🙏
Can I get your social media ID, so that we can talk more about what happened. I would like to listen to it fully. Btw I am a film student and It can help me with what I am creating right now.
The hauntingly beautiful soundtrack needs to be mentioned too. It made the movie! One of the best ever.
Absolutely, the score is fantastic
watched it with my mom recently and she casually tells me she saw the guitarist in concert ... damn her generation are lucky .
@@myname-mz3lo indeed.
Ry Cooder always hits right :)
@@sanpedro1337 AND Played with Captain Beefheart!!
My favorite film of all time. Robby Muller, Wim Wenders, Ry Cooder... the incredible cast, especially Harry!!! I also read Sam Shepherd's Motel Chronicles, the inspiration for Paris, Texas and it was brilliant!
Great video 🙌
I remember when this first came out when I was a pre-teen. I barely paid attention to it because my immaturity labelled it as boring. I can't wait to watch it with older eyes, thanks for reminding me of it.
It’s absolutely amazing! I hope you get chance to check it out again
You've mentioned The Searchers and I just wanted to note that the shot when Travis leaves the roadside motel in the beginning is quite reminiscent of the famous last shot from The Searchers.
It's my favorite movie. I met Harry Dean Anderson 8 years after it came out - he was the nicest guy ever. The latest Wim Wenders film Perfect Days is wonderful
*Stanton. Harry Dean Stanton. That's an awesome story. He always seemed like he was down to earth as a person.
@NickCharles-v2p oh thats funny. It was harry dean stanton - where did i get harry dean anderson from? I got old person brain
Found you from the UA-cam shorts clip! I was so impressed with the short part you posted from this video i immediately subscribed! Cant wait to binge the whole channel!
Can’t wait to see the upcoming 4K release!
I saw it at Cannes with Wim Wenders in attendance, it’s a great restoration!
When I was in college I didn’t do well with my studies, but I did check out and watch a lot of awesome movies from the school library. This was one of them and it’s probably my favorite. Superb.
Great analysis, I never considered the film through the gaze of its position in history and the generation of the characters. I recommend looking more into Sam Shepard, especially given your analysis. If you read Sam’s prose, poetry, and plays I believe you will feel that the elements you’re describing are more Sam’s doing than Wim’s. Especially given the image of parents leaving their children; as this film was written when Sam was leaving his first wife and child. I had the privilege to go through the initial drafts/screenplays of the film, at the Witliff collection in Texas, and Sam did a huge part of the writing, unfortunately they did not have a finished script when it came time to shoot. And the infamous monologue at the end had to be dictated over the phone by Sam upon Wim’s pleas for him to write it.
I’m actually reading Sam Shepherd’s “Motel Chronicles” at the moment to inform some of my own writing
I think of Gen X in particular, raised to be feral as many Gen Xers their parents even if they were present were totally absent. Surprised Gen X & older Millennials didn't turn out to be the worst generation ever or at least the most traumatized but it seems the very opposite happened & they are now trying their best to show up for their kids. Hope the next generation, Gen Z does it even better. WW II generation raised the emotionally secure attached worst generation because they were highly traumatized and passed it down to their kids. Boomers aren't in a void they were created.
I got to watch this film for the first time two years ago and it just happen to be The Criterion Collection version. Looks fantastic! Great flick too.
Amazing! I watched it this week at Cannes with the brand new 4k restoration, Wim Wenders was in attendance!
Splendid reflection of a classic movie, superb essay.
Thank you so much! Glad you enjoyed
I really enjoy everything you make. Thank you for introducing me to a lot of movies I wouldn’t have otherwise found.
Thank you so much! Glad you’re sticking around
Just came across this channel, in a short. Right away I got the feeling, that I was in store for some really interesting cinema...
And told by someone, who has an almost scholarly knowledge about film... and a wonderful style to present it. And seeing your comment just confirms it. Yay!
~ gigglezz....🤭 Subbed and digging in. 💕💖💕
I rarely watch such a perfect video analysis. I received more than I wished for. Thank you.
Thank you!
Would y’all consider this a film analysis or what’s it called? I find these videos so fascinating and they always resonate well with some of my own ideas based off of culture and society.
It's called "film essay". It focus on a specific topic from the film and develops a deep perspective about it.
I love your narration (especially in your shorts) and selection of music/scenes. Keep up the great work. I really enjoy your content.
Thank you very much!
The cinematography 😍
Robby Müller was really one of the greatest 🎥
Sent me down a rabbit hole. Thanks
Thanks for watching!
Great review! Helped me connect some dots that I wasn't quite making sense of after watching the movie.
Glad you enjoyed!
Euros have a fascination with American culture and consequently a different perspective.
It’s really interesting hearing Wenders talk about his exposure to American pop culture
Going to see the 4K version tonight, this is awesome
If you're new to this channel as I am you should watch the Iron Giant episode. I haven't thought about that movie in years; what an emotional rollercoaster.
Thank you so much!
Riiight? I just got here, from a short. I saw the thumbnail for the Iron Giant and I'm almost scared to watch it.... Lolzz... Ive always loved Iron Giant for it's emotional highs and lows and just that indescribable "something". And I can already tell this guy makes insightful and thought provoking essays (and the like...). (Chef's kiss) Yeah... Not feeling strong enough, to watch the Iron Giant essay, today....
Lolzz.... 💕
@@funniebunnie4u or the perfect time 🤷♂️
This is a great channel, absolutely love this content.
Word. Just found it and I'm like...😮.... 🤩🤩💕
I think this may be my favorite movie.
It’s in my top 4 for sure!
Just subscribed, incredible analysis and context. I look forward to seeing more of your reviews and digging into your archives of the work you've already done. Excellent work all around!!!
Thank you so much! Welcome aboard!
@@itsjustcinema A few favorites, KK's Trilogy, Barry Lyndon, (all Kubrick) The Lives of Others, and you revealing more unknown unknowns that aren't on 'greatest' lists.
Great commentary, thanks for this
Thanks for watching!
Another interesting movie which explores this idea from a different angle is the 1975 Jack Nicholson film, The Passenger. A journalist steals the identity of a recently deceased arms dealer and tries to leave his own identity behind by planting his passport on the body. In his pursuit of a new life, he only finds more desolation and confusion in a strange affair with a directionless college student, all while unknowingly being pursued by revolutionaries, who have him marked for death.
One of my favourite films ❤
Very well said I love your work
Thank you so much! I’m so glad you enjoyed
More arthouse films like this and the ones in your shorts please!!!!
Absolutely!
@@itsjustcinema Watch Ivan Zulueta’s 1979 Arrebato. You’ll love it!
@@itsjustcinema Do you have a letterboxd/a Top 100/50/10 Movies of all Time List? You’ve covered my favorite movie of all time (Days of Heaven), and Paris, Texas is my #11. I love your taste. And would love to see where you rank these films and what other films you consider GOAT
Hey man Im a big fan of your channel Ive gotten a ton of great recommendations from it. Idk if you've watched much of Wes Andersons stuff (probably lol) but I was really struck by his movie asteroid city. If you got a chance to dissect asteroid city I'd enjoy the hell out of that. Either way please keep up the good work your channel is one of the few things I don't feel like I'm wasting my time with when I watch UA-cam I actually feel like I'm enriching myself.
Thank you so much! I absolutely love some of Wes Anderson’s stuff, but a lot of it doesn’t really resonate with me, Moonrise Kingdom and Rushmore are my two favourites
It’s just frustrating that the real Paris Texas is on the other side of the state from the desert and looks nothing like the setting lol
Ummmm… sadly, you’ve missed the point entirely 😳
How'd you describe this movie or rather the message of this movie in concise?
Go for it, bro tremendous job
My number one movie of all times
heartbreaking.
Absolutely!
这里是中国的朋友，很喜欢你的视频，关注你很久了
Sundays on the phone to Monday
I first encountered this film in a fan video for the song Myth by Beach House... I never noticed it wasn't the actual video of the song until I watched your video here. It fits the vibe, and quote, so well. ua-cam.com/video/cfBmizHxJec/v-deo.html
Bro i literally watched this movie yesterday for the first time
It’s amazing right?
@@itsjustcinema absolutely
Beautiful
Thank you!
Great Movie!
One of my favourites!
I have problems thinking of america as a county of "justice"....
I have met the enemy and he is I
1:49 The word is “undoubtedly.”
This is a great movie but the two parent characters were not normal and a good example of the american family, they were incredible outliers just because Hoolywood has spent the subsequent 40 years since this film came out trying to utterly destroy the american (and particularly white) family doesnt mean that this outlandish and really pretty unbelievable couple and the disastrous outcome of their combined shellfish decisions is proof of "the myth if the American family".
Travis is easily old enough to be Jane's father and almost her grandfather. They're not the same generation so suggesting this a movie for disillusioned boomers misses the mark by quite a mile. This overshadows everything. I'd say its a miscasting. Travis should have been the much younger brother. Then the casting would have worked. Harry Dean Stanton was born in 1926! He's in the so called "Greatest Generaton" Lolz. Kinski is nearly a Gen Xer born in 1961! No sir. If the casting contributes anything to the content and it does then you can't talk about Paris,Texas without talking about the 35 year old age gap. Stanton isn't just an old man he's a homely looking old man while Kinski is absolute knockout in her 20s. Everyone pretends not to notice. They have all these lofty ideas about what the movie means but completely ignores what is either the fatal flaw or the key to the whole film. How does a 52 year old hook up with a 17 year old? We almost need a prequel. Was he her teacher? Was a he a friend of the family? A step father? WTF happened?
Some good points. I never thought much about the age gap until revisiting the film more recently. Now I find it detrimental to the entire story. It's not uncommon for couples to be cast where the wife is considerably younger than the husband. Audiences seem to like some weathered character in men, but prefer youthful beauty in women. However, most film and tv couple age differences are 10 to 15 years, which is not unheard of in real life. The age difference between Travis and Jane however is far too extreme to have any credibility. Clearly Kinski was cast for her striking beauty and to help draw in viewers who wouldn't otherwise have bothered to watch. And fans of the film have obviously been willing to turn a blind eye to this issue - myself included, at least previously. Oh well, I still love the imagery, the pace, the music and the acting in this film.
@@DCI226 If the screenplay acknowledged the age gap and even made it central to story of why things went very wrong in their relationship fell apart and why Jane ends up falling prey to the sex industry. Is this already there as subtext? Every man behind the mirror sounds like Travis to her. Maybe but I haven't run across anyone talking about it. I think its just ignored.
There's also the question of where were/are her parents? We learn about Travis's parents but not Jane's! It's bizarre.
A younger Travis or an older Jane is the only way to make it work as written.
Have you noticed how many father/daughter action movies there are? It's a common trope: estranged father returns to reconcile with his daughter and redeem himself. Armageddon seems to have established the trope but probably examples before it. The lovely Liv Tyler as daughter and the older but still virile Bruce Willis as father. It's a ubiquitous trope in action films and series now. Perhaps this has something to do with audience or producer /casting preference as you say. People like to see young nubile women and older weathered men on the screen. Maybe this is true. For better or worse, the trope bypasses or sublimates the romantic relationship into a father /daughter relationship.
discovery of new lands😆, try to be deep but ignores that the land was already discovered more than12000 yrs previously, try again noob
The take on counter-culture generation confused/lost/unsure what to do missed the mark completely
all's entitled to the own interpretation, but this one is unfounded
suppose what, then? genuine inquiry
@@quinncillian formulate your genuine inquiry in a more precise manner, so I understand what you're inquiring about.
genuine confusion
@@tedmcgee7363 just curious what you might argue instead re: the "counterculture generation"? asking bc I usually dig this creator's essays and I'm in the middle of the video, so I'm just interested in some criticism if you have some. thanks for replying!
@@tedmcgee7363 @tedmcgee7363 just reread my og reply and I see now my comment reads incredibly sarcastic 🙃 my bad! not sure how I ended up wording it like that lol
@@quinncillian in the movie there is no hint that any of the adult characters were a part or at least sympathetic to the counter-culture of 60s
that is why I called the take unfounded
Listening to Americans talking about 20th century history is like listening to a child talk about their crayons
Listening to pompous Europeans or third worlders talk down about America is like listening to a middle aged homeless guy who peaked in high school talk about their glory days
listening to you sir is a pain in ass, dumb patriot. @@noahhess4955