CFF: Paris, Texas (1984) (12A) (RS) + Intro

Dir. Wim Wenders | 1984 | 146 mins Plus Introduction | English

A leading figure of the 1970s German New Wave Wim Wenders’ films were infused with a love of American music and culture. Whilst shooting Hammett for Coppola’s Zoetrope Studios in the early 1980s Wenders developed a project with Sam Shepherd loosely based on the playwright’s Motel Chronicles. With an unfinished script about two brothers one of which has lost his memory, Wenders, cast and crew went on a 5 week shoot with a week out to finish the script. The result which won the Palme d’Or at the 1984 Cannes Film Festival is one of the most iconic films of the 1980s: Dutch cinematographer Robby Müller’s use of colour is sublime, the performances - particularly Harry Dean Stanton and Nastassja Kinski - are luminescent and the music from Ry Cooder haunted. 

The film follows the mysterious, nearly mute drifter Travis (Harry Dean Stanton), whose face is a landscape all its own) as he tries to reconnect with his young son, living with his brother (Dean Stockwell) in Los Angeles, and his missing wife (Nastassja Kinski).

This stunning 4K restoration, supervised by Wenders, re-presents the full haunting emotional majesty of what it was like to experience the original 35mm release forty years on. 

This film will be introduced by Judith Noble. Judith Noble is a Professor of Film and the Occult at Arts University Plymouth (UK). She began her career as an artist-filmmaker, exhibiting work internationally and worked for over twenty years as a production executive in the film industry, working with directors including Peter Greenaway and Amma Asante. Her current research centres on artists’ moving image, Surrealism, the occult, and work by women artists, and she has published on filmmakers including Maya Deren, Derek Jarman, and Kenneth Anger. Her most recent publication (as editor) is The Dance of Moon and Sun – Ithell Colquhoun, British Women and Surrealism (2023, Fulgur). She continues to practice as an artist and filmmaker. 

Cinema Rediscovered (24 – 28 July 2023) dedicated to the rediscovery and revival of great films back launches a UK and Ireland wide touring programme available Aug 2024 – Jan 2025 supported by BFI awarding funds from National Lottery.

Relaxed Screening (RS)

Everyone is welcome to these screenings, but we have made them especially suitable to those who find standard screenings overwhelming such as autistic people, those with Dementia, those with sensory issues. We will make the following adjustments:

• The house lights are left on low and the sound turned down a little.

• There are no pre-feature adverts or trailers and the film starts at the time advertised.

• During the film, you can use non distracting aids such as personal devices, ear defenders, fidget spinners and chewable jewellery etc.

Tickets: £8.00/£7.00/£4.50

A £1 Poly Fund payment is added to each ticket sold.

Please be aware films will start at the advertised time, we rarely show adverts and usually show under 5 minutes of trailers.

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