# Paris, Texas

> 1984 film directed by Wim Wenders

**Wikidata**: [Q160946](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q160946)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paris,_Texas_(film))  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/paris-texas

## Summary
Paris, Texas is a 1984 drama film directed by Wim Wenders, starring Harry Dean Stanton and Nastassja Kinski. The film follows a man who emerges from the desert after a four-year absence and attempts to reconnect with his young son and estranged wife. It won the Palme d'Or at the 1984 Cannes Film Festival and is considered a masterpiece of modern cinema.

## Key Facts
- Directed by Wim Wenders, a German filmmaker born in 1945
- Released in 1984, with premiere dates in May 1984 (Cannes) and subsequent releases in 1984-1985
- Genre: drama film
- Runtime: 147 minutes
- Budget: $1,800,000
- Box office: $2,208,837 (domestic), $2,181,987 (international)
- Produced by Road Movies Filmproduktion and Tobis Film
- Distributed by 20th Century Fox
- Screenplay by L.M. Kit Carson and Sam Shepard
- Cinematography by Robby Müller
- Music by Ry Cooder
- Starring Harry Dean Stanton, Nastassja Kinski, Dean Stockwell, and Hunter Carson
- Won the Palme d'Or at the 1984 Cannes Film Festival
- Named after the city of Paris, Texas
- Country of origin: West Germany and France (co-production)
- IMDb ID: tt0087884
- Wikidata ID: Q1502
- Wikipedia title: Paris, Texas (film)
- Has 40 sitelinks across Wikipedia language editions

## FAQs
### What is the plot of Paris, Texas?
The film follows Travis Henderson, a man who walks out of the West Texas desert after a four-year absence, and his attempt to reconnect with his young son and estranged wife. The story explores themes of family, loss, and redemption as Travis tries to rebuild relationships and find his place in the world.

### Who directed Paris, Texas and who stars in it?
Paris, Texas was directed by German filmmaker Wim Wenders, known for his poetic visual style and existential themes. The film stars Harry Dean Stanton as Travis Henderson, Nastassja Kinski as his estranged wife Jane, Dean Stockwell as his brother Walt, and Hunter Carson as his young son Hunter.

### What awards did Paris, Texas win?
The film won the prestigious Palme d'Or at the 1984 Cannes Film Festival, the highest prize awarded at the festival. It was also recognized by the National Board of Review as one of the Top Ten Films of 1984.

### Where was Paris, Texas filmed?
The film was shot on location in various parts of Texas, including the West Texas desert, Houston, and other locations that capture the vast, desolate landscapes central to the film's visual aesthetic and themes.

### What is the significance of the film's title?
The title "Paris, Texas" refers to a small city in northeast Texas, though the film is not actually set there. The name symbolizes the American West and the search for identity and belonging that drives the film's narrative.

## Why It Matters
Paris, Texas matters as a landmark achievement in international cinema that transcends national boundaries to explore universal themes of family, identity, and redemption. The film represents a high point in the New German Cinema movement, showcasing Wim Wenders' distinctive visual poetry and philosophical depth. Its success at Cannes demonstrated the global appeal of European art cinema and helped establish Wenders as a major international filmmaker. The film's influence extends beyond cinema into photography, music, and visual arts, with its iconic imagery and Ry Cooder's haunting score becoming cultural touchstones. Paris, Texas continues to be studied in film schools and celebrated by critics for its masterful blend of American landscapes with European sensibilities, creating a unique cinematic language that speaks to audiences worldwide.

## Notable For
- Winning the Palme d'Or at the 1984 Cannes Film Festival
- Being named one of the National Board of Review's Top Ten Films of 1984
- Featuring cinematography by Robby Müller that became highly influential
- Introducing Ry Cooder's slide guitar score to international audiences
- Starring Harry Dean Stanton in one of his most celebrated roles
- Being co-written by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Sam Shepard
- Representing a successful collaboration between German and French cinema
- Its influence on subsequent generations of independent filmmakers
- The film's poster and imagery becoming iconic in cinema history
- Being preserved in the Criterion Collection

## Body
### Production and Development
Paris, Texas was produced by Road Movies Filmproduktion, Wim Wenders' production company based in West Germany, in co-production with Tobis Film. The screenplay was written by L.M. Kit Carson and Sam Shepard, with Shepard receiving credit for the story. The film was developed through Wenders' interest in exploring American landscapes and culture through a European artistic lens, a recurring theme in his work during this period.

### Cast and Crew
The film features Harry Dean Stanton in the lead role of Travis Henderson, marking one of his most significant performances. Nastassja Kinski plays Jane, Travis's estranged wife, while Dean Stockwell portrays Walt, Travis's brother. Hunter Carson, son of screenwriter L.M. Kit Carson, plays the young Hunter Henderson. The cinematography was handled by Robby Müller, whose work on the film became highly influential for its use of natural light and wide-open spaces. The musical score was composed by Ry Cooder, featuring his distinctive slide guitar work that became inseparable from the film's identity.

### Release and Reception
Paris, Texas premiered at the 1984 Cannes Film Festival on May 19, where it won the Palme d'Or, the festival's highest honor. The film was subsequently released in various countries throughout 1984 and 1985, with different release dates including August 23, 1984, in West Germany, September 19, 1984, in France, and January 11, 1985, in the United States. The film received critical acclaim for its visual beauty, performances, and emotional depth, though some critics noted its deliberate pacing.

### Cultural Impact and Legacy
The film has had a lasting impact on cinema and popular culture. Its visual style, particularly the use of American landscapes and the distinctive cinematography by Robby Müller, influenced numerous filmmakers in both Europe and America. The film's poster, featuring Harry Dean Stanton walking through the desert, became an iconic image in cinema history. Ry Cooder's musical score gained widespread recognition and appreciation, contributing to the film's enduring legacy. Paris, Texas is frequently cited in lists of the greatest films of all time and continues to be studied in film schools for its technical achievements and thematic depth.

### Technical Specifications
The film has a runtime of 147 minutes and was shot on 35mm film stock. The aspect ratio is 1.85:1, and the sound mix is mono. The production budget was $1,800,000, which was considered modest for its scope and ambition. The film was shot on location in various parts of Texas, with the desert sequences filmed in West Texas and other scenes in Houston and surrounding areas.

### Distribution and Availability
Paris, Texas was distributed internationally by 20th Century Fox. The film has been released on various home video formats over the years, including VHS, DVD, and Blu-ray. It is currently available through the Criterion Collection, which has released a restored version with extensive supplementary materials. The film is also available on various streaming platforms, ensuring its continued accessibility to new audiences.

### Related Works and Connections
Wim Wenders followed Paris, Texas with Wings of Desire (1987), another critically acclaimed film that further established his international reputation. The success of Paris, Texas helped pave the way for Wenders' subsequent projects, including Buena Vista Social Club (1999), a documentary about Cuban musicians that became another major success. The film is part of Wenders' broader exploration of American culture and landscapes, which includes other works like Alice in the Cities (1974) and The American Friend (1977).

### Preservation and Restoration
The film has been preserved through various restoration efforts to maintain its visual quality for future generations. The Criterion Collection's restoration work has been particularly notable, ensuring that the film's distinctive cinematography and visual style remain accessible in high quality. The film's preservation is important not only for its artistic merit but also for its historical significance in representing the intersection of European and American cinema during the 1980s.

### Academic and Critical Study
Paris, Texas has been the subject of extensive academic study and critical analysis. Film scholars have examined its themes of family, identity, and the American West, as well as its technical achievements in cinematography and sound design. The film is frequently included in film studies curricula and has been the subject of numerous essays, books, and conference presentations. Its influence on subsequent filmmakers and its place in the history of international cinema continue to be topics of scholarly interest.

## References

1. AlloCiné
2. IMDb
3. [Source](http://stopklatka.pl/film/paryz-teksas-1984)
4. Česko-Slovenská filmová databáze
5. filmportal.de
6. [Source](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0087884/fullcredits)
7. Virtual International Authority File
8. The Movie Database
9. Paris, Texas. Rotten Tomatoes
10. Letterboxd
11. Freebase Data Dumps
12. [IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0087884/releaseinfo)
13. [IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0087884/parentalguide/#certificates)
14. [Box Office Mojo](https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt0087884/)
15. [Source](https://www.kijkwijzer.nl/films/paris-texas/)
16. List of film licenses issued from 1945 to 2020
17. [Source](https://www.eirin.jp/list/index.php?s_year=2021&s_month=10&e_year=2021&e_month=10&pageID=2)
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23. [Source](https://imdaonline.imda.gov.sg/classification/Search/Film/SearchDetail.aspx?sType=Feature&sRowID=AAAgZnAAAAAADdXAAE)
24. [Source](https://imdaonline.imda.gov.sg/classification/Search/Film/SearchDetail.aspx?sType=Feature&sRowID=AAAgZnAAAAAACOPAAD)
25. [Source](https://www.acmi.net.au/works/81424)
26. [Source](https://www.acmi.net.au/works/93582)
27. Trakt.tv
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