Motion and Emotion: The Films of Wim Wenders
Though very polite and British, this feature-length documentary about German filmmaker Wim Wenders offers the most penetrating insights and the best overall critique of his work that I have encountered anywhere. Paul Joyce, who directed it, has also made documentaries about Nicolas Roeg, David Cronenberg, Nagisa Oshima, and Dennis Hopper, and he knows the conventional format well enough to get the most out of it. There are good clips and interesting commentaries from the interviewed subjects, who include Wenders himself, cinematographer Robby Muller, filmmaker Sam Fuller, novelist Patricia Highsmith, musician Ry Cooder, actors Harry Dean Stanton, Peter Falk, and Hanns Zischler, and critic Kraft Wetzel, who is especially provocative. A must-see for Wenders fans, highly recommended for everyone else. –Jonathan Rosenbaum, 1989
Insights
Plot Summary
This documentary delves into the cinematic philosophy and artistic journey of renowned German director Wim Wenders. It explores his distinctive visual style, thematic preoccupations, and the evolution of his filmmaking career. Featuring interviews and clips from his iconic works, the film provides insight into Wenders's perspective on cinema as a medium of both contemplation and profound emotional connection.
Critical Reception
"Motion and Emotion" was generally well-received by critics for its insightful examination of Wim Wenders's filmography and his philosophical approach to filmmaking. Reviewers praised its intellectual depth and the access it provided to the director's creative process, though some found its pacing to be deliberately slow, mirroring the contemplative nature of Wenders's own films.
What Reviewers Say
- Appreciated for its deep dive into Wenders's directorial vision.
- Praised for its academic and philosophical approach to cinema.
- Some noted its slow, contemplative pacing might not appeal to all viewers.
Google audience: Audience reception for this documentary is not widely available through Google reviews, but its focus on film theory and director Wenders's specific artistic style suggests it appeals to cinephiles and students of film.
Fun Fact
The film features philosophical discussions with Gilles Deleuze, a highly influential French philosopher who wrote extensively on cinema, offering a unique intellectual layer to the documentary.
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