Hacker Cinema
Paris, Texas
1984 · Film · 145 min
Directed by Wim Wenders
A man wanders out of the desert not knowing who he is. His brother finds him, and helps to pull his memory back of the life he led before he walked out on his family and disappeared four years earlier.
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10 comments on Hacker News
Ah yes, Paris, Texas - made famous by a movie (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paris,_Texas_(film)), which inspired the name for a (Scottish!) band (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Texas_(band)), which then of course eventually had to publish a concert DVD named "Texas Paris" (the concert wasn't in Paris, Texas however, but in Paris, France - https://www.amazon.fr/Texas-Paris-Concert-integral-Bercy/dp/B00005QZ27).
One neat trick I discovered for finding good movies on IMDb is to delve into the review history of users who share my unique tastes, especially when they diverge from mainstream opinions.
For example, I found "Paris, Texas" to be pretty disappointing, yet most reviews were overwhelmingly positive. So, I sought out others who also didn't enjoy it and explored their review history to find movies we both agreed on.
Occasionally, you'll hit the jackpot and find an avid reviewer whose taste aligns perfectly with yours, providing a treasure trove of excellent movie recommendations.
I like to call these users my "IMDb doppelgangers."
You're thinking of the original one in Sicily?
It's sometimes confusing how Americans repurposed city names wholesale without the "New" prefix. Most of them are tiny towns, as for example Paris, Texas made famous by the movie.
Of the larger ones, St Petersburg, Florida always weirds me out — it makes me think of Lenin giving a speech at Finland Station under palm trees, dressed in a white suit like Don Johnson.
It's Paris, Texas (see also [1]).
[1]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paris,_Texas_(film)
Well, I tried not to get into the "low culture" vs "high culture" debate by just trying to put an example that I thought it would be agreeable to most people. In Paris, Texas we see an slow but deep study of a character that has been broken and at the end we have a cathartic moment when we understand and maybe empathize with him. In Venezuelan soap operas (not all of them I guess, but many hilarious examples) you see characters that respond in unnatural and superficial ways to forced situations that are just created for the sake of melodrama and shock.
You can might think that "low culture" and "high culture" is a product either of gatekeeping or there's some sort of socio-cultural relativism. I would disagree.
I think that one can develop "taste" for good things over time by study, reflection, and criticism. TV shows that looked to me funny and enjoyable 10 years ago when I was in college now appear to me badly written, lazy, and vapid. So I do not think that good and bad in art is relative.
Slightly off topic, but I was listening to a piece of music[0] yesterday which starts with a sample of someone saying "I knew these people. These two people." followed by another voice repeating this, over and over, becoming increasingly manic towards end. And today I read this story, and find that "I knew these people. These two people." is from the film "Paris, Texas". Odd co-incidence, although I'm sure there's a perfectly rational explanation involving probability and so on, rather than any deeper significance.
[0] Red Soil, by Teeth of the Sea
Try somewhat off-beat American novels:
1. Lonesome Dove, by Larry McMurty
2. The Heart is a Lonely Hunter, by Carson McCullers
3. A Confederacy of Dunces, by John Kennedy Toole
They are great novels, and sadly, are less known than they should be. If you are into movies, there are great ones like "Paris, Texas" by the German director Wim Wenders, or "A River Runs Through It" by Robert Redford.
Ordinary people spend their time avoiding tense situations. Repo man spends his time getting into tense situations.
Though Paris Texas is my favorite. The two confessions in the sex shop is, to me, one of the most intensely moving scenes in all of film.
Wow. I've been a fan of Harry Dean Stanton for a very, very long time. His first credit is in the 1950s-- and he has a movie in post right now!
Some notable films you might want to check out (but might not realize are worth it)
Repo Man 1984 -- a major role for him in a cult classic from the punk rock era. Also young emilio estivez
Paris Texas 1984 -- A great film from the german director Wim Wenders, very much like a german David Lynch
Pretty In Pink 1986 -- A John Hughes film, Harry Dean Stanton plays Molly Ringwald's father in a touching performance
Wild at Heart 1990 -- An avant garde film by David Lynch with Nicholas Cage and Laura Dern in their prime. Probably Lynch's best movie, in my opinion.
The Straight Story 1999 -- Also by David Lynch this is actually a G rated film, about a guy who goes to visit his brother. It's kinda spectacularly touching while still being extremely minimalist in story.
Big Love 2006-2010 -- HBO TV Series about a mormon polygamist marriage, where Harry Dean Stanton plays an evil cult leader, super creepy, super effective and a "you love to hate him situation".
That may be a bit too many suggestions, but I pared it down from the 199(!) credits he has. I have seen all of the above and can recommend them all, though several are avant garde or not designed to be happy fun movies.
Also note he has a movie coming out soon-- Lucky -- where he plays the titular character and it looks to basically be an ode to Harry Dean Stanton.
RIP Harry-- you impacted my life and I will miss you.
While it was satisfying to watch him hate the films I hate, it was incredibly validating to see him love the films I love.
Synecdoche, New York http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081105/REVIEWS/811059995 Paris, Texas http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/19840101/REVIEWS/401010366/1023
(I just notice the similar form of those film titles. Curious!)