Why Wim Wenders filmed a three-hour journey through the German border in silence
In short: In 1976, Wim Wenders released a black-and-white masterpiece that redefined the road movie. Following a projection-equipment repairman and a man recovering from a suicide attempt, the film captures the quiet, desolate spaces along the inner-German border, relying on improvised interactions and long, dialogue-free shots to explore human alienation.
Kings of the Road, or Im Lauf der Zeit, serves as the final installment of Wenders' road movie trilogy. The narrative follows Bruno Winter, a mechanic who travels along the Western side of the East German border to service old theaters, and Robert Lander, a man he encounters after a failed suicide attempt. Their journey is marked by a lack of traditional plot, as the two men drift through landscapes and encounter individuals struggling with their own despair. Wenders chose to shoot in black and white, believing it offered a more natural and realistic aesthetic than color, utilizing an ARRI 35 BL camera to capture the profound depth of the German countryside.
The production process was notably experimental. Aside from the initial meeting between the two protagonists, the entire film was improvised by the actors. Wenders shot 49,000 meters of film, eventually editing it down to a final cut of 4,760 meters. This rigorous process resulted in a three-hour runtime that divided critics; while some praised its technical perfection and poetic composition, others, such as Richard Eder, argued that the length was excessive. Despite these critiques, the film earned significant acclaim, securing the FIPRESCI Prize at Cannes and the Gold Hugo in Chicago.
Beyond its technical achievements, the film is often analyzed for its portrayal of the 'nowhereness' of travel and the characters' detachment from history. Critics have compared it to American genre films like Easy Rider, yet Wenders maintains a distinct, artisan style. The film’s soundtrack, featuring tracks by Improved Sound Limited and songs like Roger Miller's 'King of the Road,' underscores the melancholic atmosphere. Today, it remains a touchstone for cinephiles, preserved in collections that highlight its role as a definitive exploration of space, time, and the human condition.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Kings of the Road
- Also: Wikidata — Kings of the Road · CC0
- Also: Wikidata — Kings of the Road Tour · CC0
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