Road Movie Trilogy
Encyclopedia
The Road Movie Trilogy is a series of three road movie
s directed by German film director Wim Wenders
in the mid-1970s. They include Alice in the Cities
(1974), The Wrong Move
(1975), and Kings of the Road
(1976). All three films were shot by cinematographer Robby Müller
and mostly take place in West Germany
. The centerpiece of the trilogy, The Wrong Move was shot in colour whereas Alice in the Cities was in black and white 16 mm
, and Kings of the Road was in black and white 35 mm
film.
and Until the End of the World
. The trilogy also introduced for the first time (in Alice in the Cities) the fictitious wandering character Philip Winter who returns in three later Wenders films, Lisbon Story, Until the End of the World, and Faraway, So Close!
. The style of aimless wandering in the Road Move Trilogy influenced other directors including American director Jim Jarmusch
(Stranger Than Paradise
) who worked with Wenders on The State of Things
. The Road Movie Trilogy has attained minor cult film
status among Wenders and Müller fans.
Road movie
A road movie is a film genre in which the main character or characters leave home to travel from place to place. They usually leave home to escape their current lives.-History:...
s directed by German film director Wim Wenders
Wim Wenders
Ernst Wilhelm "Wim" Wenders is a German film director, playwright, author, photographer and producer.-Early life:Wenders was born in Düsseldorf. He graduated from high school in Oberhausen in the Ruhr area. He then studied medicine and philosophy in Freiburg and Düsseldorf...
in the mid-1970s. They include Alice in the Cities
Alice in the Cities
Alice in the Cities is a 1974 German road movie directed by Wim Wenders. This was the first part of Wenders' "Road Movie Trilogy" which included The Wrong Move and Kings of the Road...
(1974), The Wrong Move
The Wrong Move
The Wrong Move or Wrong Movement is a 1975 German road movie directed by Wim Wenders. This was the second part of Wenders' "Road Movie Trilogy" which included Alice in the Cities and Kings of the Road...
(1975), and Kings of the Road
Kings of the Road
Kings of the Road is a 1976 German road movie directed by Wim Wenders. It was the third part of Wenders' "Road Movie Trilogy" which included Alice in the Cities and The Wrong Move...
(1976). All three films were shot by cinematographer Robby Müller
Robby Müller
Robby Müller is a cinematographer whose name is most often associated with film director Wim Wenders.-Life and work:...
and mostly take place in West Germany
West Germany
West Germany is the common English, but not official, name for the Federal Republic of Germany or FRG in the period between its creation in May 1949 to German reunification on 3 October 1990....
. The centerpiece of the trilogy, The Wrong Move was shot in colour whereas Alice in the Cities was in black and white 16 mm
16 mm film
16 mm film refers to a popular, economical gauge of film used for motion pictures and non-theatrical film making. 16 mm refers to the width of the film...
, and Kings of the Road was in black and white 35 mm
35 mm film
35 mm film is the film gauge most commonly used for chemical still photography and motion pictures. The name of the gauge refers to the width of the photographic film, which consists of strips 35 millimeters in width...
film.
Legacy
The three low budget films established Wenders' and Müller's road movie style, a style that they later resurrected in bigger budget color films including Paris TexasParis, Texas (film)
Paris, Texas is a 1984 drama film directed by Wim Wenders. The screenplay is by L.M. Kit Carson and playwright Sam Shepard, and the distinctive musical score was composed by Ry Cooder. The cinematography is by Robby Müller....
and Until the End of the World
Until the End of the World
Until the End of the World is a 1991 film by the German film director Wim Wenders; the screenplay was written by Wenders and Peter Carey, from a story by Wenders and Solveig Dommartin. An initial draft of the screenplay was written by American filmmaker Michael Almereyda...
. The trilogy also introduced for the first time (in Alice in the Cities) the fictitious wandering character Philip Winter who returns in three later Wenders films, Lisbon Story, Until the End of the World, and Faraway, So Close!
Faraway, So Close!
Faraway, So Close! is a 1993 film by German director Wim Wenders. The screenplay is by Wenders, Richard Reitinger and Ulrich Zieger. The film is a sequel to Wenders' 1987 film Wings of Desire. Actors Otto Sander and Bruno Ganz reprise their roles as angels visiting earth. The film also stars...
. The style of aimless wandering in the Road Move Trilogy influenced other directors including American director Jim Jarmusch
Jim Jarmusch
James R. "Jim" Jarmusch is an American independent film director, screenwriter, actor, producer, editor and composer. Jarmusch has been a major proponent of independent cinema, particularly during the 1980s and 1990s.-Early life:...
(Stranger Than Paradise
Stranger Than Paradise
Stranger Than Paradise is a 1984 American absurdist/deadpan comedy film. It was written and directed by Jim Jarmusch and stars jazz musician John Lurie, former Sonic Youth drummer-turned-actor Richard Edson, and Hungarian-born actress Eszter Balint...
) who worked with Wenders on The State of Things
The State of Things
The State of Things is the second EP by British rock band Turin Brakes, and their first release for Source Records. It was released on 7" vinyl and CD. The songs on the EP were taken from the recording sessions for The Optimist LP...
. The Road Movie Trilogy has attained minor cult film
Cult film
A cult film, also commonly referred to as a cult classic, is a film that has acquired a highly devoted but specific group of fans. Often, cult movies have failed to achieve fame outside the small fanbases; however, there have been exceptions that have managed to gain fame among mainstream audiences...
status among Wenders and Müller fans.