I love how this film is purely Wenders. Excentrectic at its finest. Every single character living their own life, wrapped around their own excentricities. Great analysis!
I loved everything about the movie and the music just sticks in my head. Warning, spoilers ahead..! For what it’s worth here is a wacky theory. In the first scene you see the Bruno Ganz character walking with his son (6:19) with an obvious scar on his left forehead. As we know he gets that injury later in the movie. Now what if Wenders has deliberately put the last scene at the beginning of the film! Maybe Ganz did not die of a seizure in that awful orange coloured car on the beach with his wife. The film has a very strange ending with his wife nonchalantly closing his eyes assuming his death. But as Ganz would be chased for the rest of his life by the Mafia, he actually faked his death and planned to have a new identity and live with his son somewhere else. That is why Ganz with an old head injury in the early morning is seen collecting his son and walking him away to some unknown destination to start a new life without his wife knowing, ensuring her safety from the Mob. Clever Wenders/ crazy idea or just a simple film goof?
Great essay, I've just seen it and you're so right about many aspects of the film. Do you think Wenders is paying homage to older directors in the train death scene? It seems so out of place compared to the realism of everything else. It looked like something Hitchcock would shoot. Thanks again for your thoughts on this.
I like how the plot doesn’t make any sense, like it’s so obvious that the gangster has paid the doctor to tell the shopkeeper he’s gonna die so that he might as well do the hit. Great film.
I could never rectify how dumb Ganz's character would have to be to believe a complete stranger that so obviously wants to exploit him. I mean, his personal doctor tells him he is doing fine but he still leaves the country and takes an appointment with a doctor at the stranger's behest even after knowing the stranger wants him to murder someone with the reasoning "your health is deteriorating". Such a weird story beat that took me out of the film both times I watched it... like all of Ripley's "ingenious plan" relies on the mark being an absolute moron.
Yea, this is true and for that I think this film is a little odd. I think this points to the fact that fiction and movies in particular demand a certain logic from their characters. The most obvious offender would be horror movies, how many times have we all watched a horror movie and yelled at the characters for being so stupid. That's fair. Because often in horror stupid characters are used as devices to move the plot forward or simply to be exploited for scares. But if we think about real life, often many of us would act stupid in similar situations. I've been in a dark room and heard a noise and been scared for no reason, and if that simple noise scares me, I don't know how I would act if I was in actual danger. For me their is a difference in the two scenarios above. In the silly horror movie (which can still be fun) the irrationality is used as a device that takes the viewer out of the experience while the other had no pay off and simply happened because it was in character (the character being me) to react that way. For me, I love movies where characters act illogically if they do so simply because that's how they act. After all, if a noise can scare me, then surely if I was facing death I would want to make damn sure I wasn't dying, and if not that then at least having the peace of mind that my family would not be left destitute. Even if I'm a little stupid while doing it. For me, The American Friend falls into the camp of films where characters act illogically because that's who they are and I think that's one of my favorite things to watch. We all can act a little crazy and I'm happy we can share in that experience on screen, especially when we are pushed to our limits. But if you watch The American Friend and see it as just a plot device to keep the story going then I respect that as well, after all movies are subjective. Thanks for the comment and the discussion.
@@maxwellcouturefilms I see what you mean. I guess specifically what bothered me was Ripley's plan being reliant on such behavior for the movie to even work kind of exposed plot contrivance a little to heavily that killed it for me. I think after seeing Paris, Texas first had it's impact cause my hopes were set a bit too high. Good essay, though, I look forward to watching more of your videos, keep it up!
Thanks and that does make sense. I highly recommend Alice in the Cities. It's my favorite by Wenders. Kings of the Road is also a favorite but its very long and can test one's patience. Have a good one!
@@kr3w4life45 Yeah that was a nice piece of irony. Movie was still clear that the medical reports were faked so unfortunately my issue with it still stands. :/
I didnt really understand your point about the gift of objectivity that this film provides...I mean arent other movies mostly objective too? Could you please discuss that?..I would appeciate it
Thanks for the comment! I think it is best represented in that clumsy death at the house. In another film the man who died might have been established earlier, there might be a story thread that culminates in this death, after all its not as if this death takes up little screen time. Instead, for lack of a better term, in the American Friend it just happens, almost out of the blue. We aren’t told how to feel about and that’s what I think is the heart of my comments. By not telling us how to feel, the film asks us to think for ourselves and observe the film objectively. To answer your question more directly, no I do not think most films offer an objective viewing experience. Filmmakers will manipulate the audience using music, editing, lighting, performance, story etc. The American Friend still does this but certainly not to the extent other films will. Often it is stylized and ambiguous rather than manipulative, but that said, there are lots of other films out there that do similar things to the American Friend. I just think in this film it’s more interesting because of the nature of the content, especially when it is considered that half the cast is made up of directors. Does that make any sense?
using this space to talk about anything movies is a great time so feel free to comment
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I love how this film is purely Wenders. Excentrectic at its finest. Every single character living their own life, wrapped around their own excentricities. Great analysis!
I want to rewatch it now lol. Thanks!
I'm reading the books because of this Tom from Wenders.
I just watched this last night and was completely drawn in by it.
I watched this film for the first time a few days ago (on the Criterion Channel). I think I've become a bit obsessed with it!
Dennis Hopper's greatest role! Cool house in Hamburg, Ode to Seventies alienation
Hopper is really something else. Couldn’t agree more.
I loved everything about the movie and the music just sticks in my head. Warning, spoilers ahead..!
For what it’s worth here is a wacky theory. In the first scene you see the Bruno Ganz character walking with his son (6:19) with an obvious scar on his left forehead. As we know he gets that injury later in the movie. Now what if Wenders has deliberately put the last scene at the beginning of the film!
Maybe Ganz did not die of a seizure in that awful orange coloured car on the beach with his wife.
The film has a very strange ending with his wife nonchalantly closing his eyes assuming his death. But as Ganz would be chased for the rest of his life by the Mafia, he actually faked his death and planned to have a new identity and live with his son somewhere else.
That is why Ganz with an old head injury in the early morning is seen collecting his son and walking him away to some unknown destination to start a new life without his wife knowing, ensuring her safety from the Mob.
Clever Wenders/ crazy idea or just a simple film goof?
Amazing analysis for an amazing movie!! Love this!!
Thank you, that means a lot! It’s definitely a favorite of mine.
Spot on analysis of an underappreciated gem.
I love your ideas. I love your voice. It makes me so calm.😊
Still one of my favorite movies. Perception is a point of view.
Great essay, I've just seen it and you're so right about many aspects of the film. Do you think Wenders is paying homage to older directors in the train death scene? It seems so out of place compared to the realism of everything else. It looked like something Hitchcock would shoot. Thanks again for your thoughts on this.
I like how the plot doesn’t make any sense, like it’s so obvious that the gangster has paid the doctor to tell the shopkeeper he’s gonna die so that he might as well do the hit. Great film.
Really rate this as the best of the 4 High Smith Ripley's. But they were all pretty good.
Great video, well done!
Thank you, means a lot. Stay tuned for more!
Great film and great essay :)
Love this film as well and I'm glad you liked it. Thanks for the comment.
great vid man.
Thanks
I could never rectify how dumb Ganz's character would have to be to believe a complete stranger that so obviously wants to exploit him. I mean, his personal doctor tells him he is doing fine but he still leaves the country and takes an appointment with a doctor at the stranger's behest even after knowing the stranger wants him to murder someone with the reasoning "your health is deteriorating". Such a weird story beat that took me out of the film both times I watched it... like all of Ripley's "ingenious plan" relies on the mark being an absolute moron.
Yea, this is true and for that I think this film is a little odd. I think this points to the fact that fiction and movies in particular demand a certain logic from their characters. The most obvious offender would be horror movies, how many times have we all watched a horror movie and yelled at the characters for being so stupid. That's fair. Because often in horror stupid characters are used as devices to move the plot forward or simply to be exploited for scares. But if we think about real life, often many of us would act stupid in similar situations. I've been in a dark room and heard a noise and been scared for no reason, and if that simple noise scares me, I don't know how I would act if I was in actual danger. For me their is a difference in the two scenarios above. In the silly horror movie (which can still be fun) the irrationality is used as a device that takes the viewer out of the experience while the other had no pay off and simply happened because it was in character (the character being me) to react that way. For me, I love movies where characters act illogically if they do so simply because that's how they act. After all, if a noise can scare me, then surely if I was facing death I would want to make damn sure I wasn't dying, and if not that then at least having the peace of mind that my family would not be left destitute. Even if I'm a little stupid while doing it. For me, The American Friend falls into the camp of films where characters act illogically because that's who they are and I think that's one of my favorite things to watch. We all can act a little crazy and I'm happy we can share in that experience on screen, especially when we are pushed to our limits. But if you watch The American Friend and see it as just a plot device to keep the story going then I respect that as well, after all movies are subjective. Thanks for the comment and the discussion.
@@maxwellcouturefilms I see what you mean. I guess specifically what bothered me was Ripley's plan being reliant on such behavior for the movie to even work kind of exposed plot contrivance a little to heavily that killed it for me. I think after seeing Paris, Texas first had it's impact cause my hopes were set a bit too high. Good essay, though, I look forward to watching more of your videos, keep it up!
Thanks and that does make sense. I highly recommend Alice in the Cities. It's my favorite by Wenders. Kings of the Road is also a favorite but its very long and can test one's patience. Have a good one!
He dies in the end tho from ill health?
@@kr3w4life45 Yeah that was a nice piece of irony. Movie was still clear that the medical reports were faked so unfortunately my issue with it still stands. :/
I didnt really understand your point about the gift of objectivity that this film provides...I mean arent other movies mostly objective too?
Could you please discuss that?..I would appeciate it
Thanks for the comment! I think it is best represented in that clumsy death at the house. In another film the man who died might have been established earlier, there might be a story thread that culminates in this death, after all its not as if this death takes up little screen time. Instead, for lack of a better term, in the American Friend it just happens, almost out of the blue. We aren’t told how to feel about and that’s what I think is the heart of my comments. By not telling us how to feel, the film asks us to think for ourselves and observe the film objectively. To answer your question more directly, no I do not think most films offer an objective viewing experience. Filmmakers will manipulate the audience using music, editing, lighting, performance, story etc. The American Friend still does this but certainly not to the extent other films will. Often it is stylized and ambiguous rather than manipulative, but that said, there are lots of other films out there that do similar things to the American Friend. I just think in this film it’s more interesting because of the nature of the content, especially when it is considered that half the cast is made up of directors. Does that make any sense?
im not sure what you're trying to say here
Tought just was ne
Good stuff, enjoyed it, keep up the good work!
Appreciate it!