Initially, when I tasked myself with writing this review, I was going to write it in a very ordered way like my first review. I was going to think about all I wanted to say about the film, then arrange it.  Although, for a film that stirs so many emotions in me, emotions I can’t describe or exactly put my finger on, the film deserved a more emotional take on it and what is this slightly unconventional review.

Firstly, I’ll give a summary of the film and then I’ll take inspiration from another film I love “10 things I hate about you” but instead of citing ten reasons why I hate Paris, Texas I’ll give you three.

Paris, Texas is a 1984 road film directed by Wim Wenders, a pioneer of the New German Cinema film movement. The film also stars actor Harry Dean Stanton as the main character of Travis, a man who wanders through the American desert for four years and in many ways, I feel tries to find himself. The film tracks how Travis is reunited with his brother – however rather awkwardly- after his four year- long wandering and also follows him trying to patch up his relationships with other loved ones he hasn’t seen in such a long time.

  • The first reason I hate Paris, Texas is because it is visually stunning and makes me pity everything I’ve ever tried to capture on camera. Dutch cinematographer Robby Müller effortlessly captures each landscape be it the American desert- a place I find so beautiful on camera, “Thelma and Louise” another film I adore, also has some striking visuals of the desert as well- or Los Angeles with its skyscrapers.
  • The second reason I hate Paris, Texas is because the film initially is kind of slow, in the first half an hour I was about to turn it off. Although, I didn’t and I’m glad I didn’t because the story unfolds slowly but also beautifully, you watch how Travis rekindles his relationship with his young son and finally how he returns his son to his estranged wife, who also hasn’t seen his son in four years. In an era where big action films thrive this film implores you to be still.
  • The third reason I hate Paris, Texas is because of the super 8 scene where Travis, Walt -Travis’ brother, Walt’s wife, and Hunter- Travis’ son, watch footage of themselves and Travis' estranged wife Jane on holiday when times were happier, and that scene never fails to bring me to tears and I don’t know why. It could be the stunning film visuals or the heart-tugging rendition of Canción Mixteca.

As you can probably guess I don’t hate the film, in fact I really love it, it captures themes of love and masculinity, themes that are ageless and incredibly relevant in any society. Even though the film may almost be forty years old it still resonates with me immensely and I think it always will.