Paris, Texas: The Painful Beauty of Loneliness

Paris, Texas tells the story of Travis Henderson (Dean Stanton), a man who has been missing for four years and is found wandering in the desert. Suffering from memory loss and emotional detachment, Travis is gradually reintroduced to his family by his brother, Walt (Dean Stockwell). Travis embarks on a journey to reconnect with his estranged young son, Hunter (Hunter Carson), and eventually, his ex-wife, Jane (Nastassja Kinski).

The screenplay was written by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Sam Shepard, who collaborated closely with Wenders to shape the narrative’s sparse and poetic tone. Wenders and Shepard collaborated long-distance, with Shepard writing the screenplay while performing in a play in New York. Wenders later made changes to the script during filming, particularly in the climactic scene between Travis and Jane, which was largely improvised by Harry Dean Stanton and Nastassja Kinski.

Much of the film’s evocative atmosphere comes from the hauntingly beautiful cinematography by Robby Müller, known for his use of desolate landscapes and natural light. Müller shot some of the most remarkable arthouse movies, working with Jim Jarmusch and Lars von Trier, besides taking care of other legendary Wenders movies like Alice in the Cities and American Friend.

The film was shot over eight weeks, primarily in Texas and California, with a tight budget and a small crew. The film’s minimalist approach extends to the dialogue, which allows the emotions and tensions to simmer beneath the surface. Ry Cooder’s evocative slide guitar score enhances this mood, giving the film a distinctly American feel while maintaining its existential and European sensibilities.

In Paris, Texas, Wenders, a member of the German New Wave, merges the visual language of classic Westerns with the introspective, philosophical elements of European cinema. The title itself, referencing the small Texas town of Paris, speaks to the contrast between mundane reality and the idealized fantasy of personal freedom and redemption that Travis seeks.

The film’s exploration of fractured relationships, especially between fathers and sons, resonates deeply with universal themes of forgiveness and the search for meaning in a fragmented world.

Marc Wilkins
Co-Founder, Kyiv Cinema Society