Alice in den Städten (1974)
Genre: Road movie
Duration: 110 minuten
Alternative title: Alice in the Cities
Country:
West Germany
Directed by: Wim Wenders
Stars: Rüdiger Vogler, Yella Rottländer and Lisa Kreuzer
IMDb score:
7,8 (14.906)
Releasedate: 17 May 1974
Alice in den Städten plot
A German journalist, who has to make a report about the US, suffers from a "writers block" and wants to return home. However, he gets stuck at an airport where there is a strike. There he is asked to take a little girl, Alice, with him.
Actors and actresses
Philip Winter
Alice van Damm
Lisa van Damm
Angela
Publisher
Car Dealer
Airport Hostess
Woman at Swimming Park
Police Officer
Woman on Ferry
Reviews & comments
arno74
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- 8700 messages
- 3342 votes
A beautiful film that I still find difficult to properly appreciate. Perhaps it is a bit pretentious, but it is largely successful. I also had trouble getting through the first 20 minutes, but afterwards you can see that the writer seems very relaxed (outwardly). A big contrast with the child's stressful mother, so that a theme of slowing down also flows through the film, as it were. Time is taken for everything, and the writer is very patient (although that patience is continually tested by the girl). Once that mother and that 'publisher' have disappeared from the picture, the film radiates peace again and the plot starts to flow smoothly.
Strange story, simple, but very beautifully presented. And that railway gives the film a nice futuristic look. For now I'll keep it at 3*.
Translated from Dutch · View original
Dievegge
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- 3180 messages
- 8228 votes
It starts slowly, but ultimately it becomes an endearing portrait of the growing bond between two reprobates who happen to be saddled with each other. There are small arguments, they reproach each other, they don't mince their words, but in the end the beautiful moments dominate, such as the and-then-and-then bedtime story. A strange moment is when he responds to a comment from her with a few minutes delay, in the scene with the jukebox.
They are looking for someone, but the journey quickly becomes more important than the destination. There is a variety of means of transport. The contrast between New York, with its skyscrapers and the architecture of Frank Lloyd Wright, and the Ruhr area, with its dilapidated working-class houses, is great. It's nice that some Dutch is spoken in it. In Amsterdam, Alice reads De Klankentapper by Suske and Wiske.
They act natural, he a bit sluggish, she straightforward. It's remarkable that such a little girl can play such a role perfectly. There is a nice side role for Hans Hirschmüller as a police officer. For a moment I fearedthat they would consider it a kidnapping, but luckily it doesn't go that way.
It is a modern version of the Odyssey, a gloomy version of the one year older Paper Moon, a realistic version of Alice in Wonderland. Photos are included, with the consideration that there is always a difference with reality.
Translated from Dutch · View original
Fisico
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- 10039 messages
- 5398 votes
Very nice road movie that only really gets going after half an hour. At the center is a journalist who prefers to take photos rather than write, much to the dismay of his employer. Philip then quits and decides to return to Germany.
At the airport he meets a single mother and, unwillingly, a little girl is placed in his hands. Away from New York to Europe. Amsterdam, Wuppertal and the Ruhr area. A bit of an aimless journey, looking for a needle in a haystack, but oh so beautiful. I was once in Wuppertal myself, visiting family and also riding on that suspension train. Nostalgic.
Beautiful natural role from that girl. Nice chemistry with the lead actor too. Still one to cherish and one of the top road movies.
Translated from Dutch · View original
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