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One of the key films of the New German Cinema, ALICE IN THE CITIES marked the emergence of Wim Wenders as one of the most distinctive European filmmakers of the 1970s. It is also widely accepted to be one of the director's most poignant films and the first to be shot partly in the United States. Philip Winter, a journalist with writer's block, becomes the guardian of eight year-old Alice (Yella Rottländer) when her mother leaves the girl with him briefly at an American airport, only never to return. Back in Germany, an unlikely friendship develops between the two as they embark on a journey to find Alice's grandmother. Through Rüdiger Vogler's portrayal of the embittered Winter, Wenders presents a stark but witty account of the changing face of Europe, the onset of global consumerism and the influences of American pop culture. Extras: Exclusive in-depth interview with director / Photo Galleries
Product Description
ALICE IN THE CITIES is the first in Wim Wenders' "Road Movies" trilogy, followed by WRONG MOVE and KINGS OF THE ROAD. DVD bonus features include an exclusive in-depth interview with Wim Wenders by film critic Mark Cousins and rare interviews with stars Rudiger Vogler and Yella Rottlander.
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
Early Wim Wenders is like marmite, you either enjoy how the characters are slowly developed before your eyes, the ponderous photography, the disjointed dialog with moments of profundity, the way that the first third does not know what the film is about or where it is going. I watched this with my family and it was a battle to get them to carry on watching it, though by the end they did all agree they quite liked the later parts.
I love early Wenders films and I have seen most of them over the years. This is not one of the very best, but for the fan there is much to enjoy.
There is a typical Wenders protaginist, Rudiger Vogler a Wenders regular. He is a writer, running out of money and late with his story about America. He loves the idea of America but cannot cope with the banality of the reality. Heading back to Germany he ends up with the young Yella Rottlander and does his best to help her get home. The tight wound Vogler gradually regains his humanity, humour and desire to write.
Although the photography is by another Wenders regular Robby Muller the film stock was not high resolution, so some wonderful majestic pans turn out rather grainy. The film loves real cities, and includes lengthy pans or shots from vehicles. There is the usual deft soundtrack of lesser known classic American tracks. The instrumental sound track is credited to Can (one of my all time favourite bands) but it is actually Irmin Schmidt and Michael Karoli, so it lacks the joyous basslines of Holger Czukay. The soundtrack is effective and unobtrusive.
The real strength of the film is Yella Rottlander giving a wonderfully natural performance as a child who relies on her basic good nature and a little guile to craft Vogler into someone who is not only capable but keen to help her. This is one of the few films that uses a child as a real and active character. Their interplay is touching and amusing, as they come to acknowledge the other as their equal with something to teach them.
This is a decent series of discs by Axiom, attractively packaged in a uniform style, a few interviews are included here as extras. Interestingly Axiom have to date omitted to include some 'obvious' early Wenders, for example the Goal Keeper's Fear of the Penalty and Hammett, but I found the former unduly bleak and the latter unduly disjointed. They have chosen wisely in assembling a welcome collection of these thoughtful, beautiful and humane films.
I love early Wenders films and I have seen most of them over the years. This is not one of the very best, but for the fan there is much to enjoy.
There is a typical Wenders protaginist, Rudiger Vogler a Wenders regular. He is a writer, running out of money and late with his story about America. He loves the idea of America but cannot cope with the banality of the reality. Heading back to Germany he ends up with the young Yella Rottlander and does his best to help her get home. The tight wound Vogler gradually regains his humanity, humour and desire to write.
Although the photography is by another Wenders regular Robby Muller the film stock was not high resolution, so some wonderful majestic pans turn out rather grainy. The film loves real cities, and includes lengthy pans or shots from vehicles. There is the usual deft soundtrack of lesser known classic American tracks. The instrumental sound track is credited to Can (one of my all time favourite bands) but it is actually Irmin Schmidt and Michael Karoli, so it lacks the joyous basslines of Holger Czukay. The soundtrack is effective and unobtrusive.
The real strength of the film is Yella Rottlander giving a wonderfully natural performance as a child who relies on her basic good nature and a little guile to craft Vogler into someone who is not only capable but keen to help her. This is one of the few films that uses a child as a real and active character. Their interplay is touching and amusing, as they come to acknowledge the other as their equal with something to teach them.
This is a decent series of discs by Axiom, attractively packaged in a uniform style, a few interviews are included here as extras. Interestingly Axiom have to date omitted to include some 'obvious' early Wenders, for example the Goal Keeper's Fear of the Penalty and Hammett, but I found the former unduly bleak and the latter unduly disjointed. They have chosen wisely in assembling a welcome collection of these thoughtful, beautiful and humane films.
12 of 13 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
Made in 1973 (not '74 as they all say!) this is classic Wim Wenders - a black and white road movie, with the main character (Vogler) adrift and without much purpose, in a world of sleazy hotels, roadside eatieries, 70s music and Americana. Quite a bit of Americana - it all starts in the US, where Vogler is supposed to write a story about being on the road in America. But all he does is take lots of polaroids and scribble notes; so he misses his deadline, runs out of money, and has to fly back to Germany. Because of a strike there are no flights, and while booking flight to Amsterdam he meets 9-year old Alice and her mother; he helps them out with the language, and before you know it the mother has left Alice in his care, and they'll hook up later in Europe. Two quite different characters are on the road, in the cities, and chasing various goals: Alice's gran, their dreams, and a goal in life. Against a grainy backdrop of seventies townscapes and industry two reluctant co-travellers are on a vague quest, and discover ... well, I don't want to spoil it.
This is a wistful movie, with stunning imagery: Lowry, for instance, in the loneliness of travel in the USA. Wenders worked with Robby Muller for many movies, and you can see why - long, leisurely shots, wide angles, strange details lifted out. It is very much in line with his later Paris, Texas, but I prefer this: warmer, more innocence, loving. Vogler is great as the traveller without a purpose, but Yella Rottlander as young Alice is pretty wonderful, too. And the German backdrop, a slowly disappearing old Europe, is melancholy but beautiful in a strange way. There is some of Wings of desire in here, too.
Wenders has said that 'Alice' was "actually... the most important film of my life... and I projected everything onto Rudiger (Vogler) that one can project, as a director... into a main role... mein altes Ego!"
A very laid-back movie. Not all that much happens, and what happens can be pretty aimless; but if it leaves you with a warm a feeling it left me, than you'll agree that there is not much to beat classic Wenders.
This is a wistful movie, with stunning imagery: Lowry, for instance, in the loneliness of travel in the USA. Wenders worked with Robby Muller for many movies, and you can see why - long, leisurely shots, wide angles, strange details lifted out. It is very much in line with his later Paris, Texas, but I prefer this: warmer, more innocence, loving. Vogler is great as the traveller without a purpose, but Yella Rottlander as young Alice is pretty wonderful, too. And the German backdrop, a slowly disappearing old Europe, is melancholy but beautiful in a strange way. There is some of Wings of desire in here, too.
Wenders has said that 'Alice' was "actually... the most important film of my life... and I projected everything onto Rudiger (Vogler) that one can project, as a director... into a main role... mein altes Ego!"
A very laid-back movie. Not all that much happens, and what happens can be pretty aimless; but if it leaves you with a warm a feeling it left me, than you'll agree that there is not much to beat classic Wenders.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Film versions of novels rarely, if ever, evoke the density of meanings found in the original. With "Alice in the Cities" the opposite is true: here is a film that cannot conceivably be put into writing.
If it were, it would most likely take the form of a Bildungsroman turned upside-down: a middle-aged man comes to learn what life is about, taught by a little girl -- in other words, what the synopsis says.
But what the film really evokes, words cannot say. Just see this film. Do.
If it were, it would most likely take the form of a Bildungsroman turned upside-down: a middle-aged man comes to learn what life is about, taught by a little girl -- in other words, what the synopsis says.
But what the film really evokes, words cannot say. Just see this film. Do.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
A monochrome world - a kindlier world too.
'Alice' has long been, for me, the true beginning of modern post-war European Cinema. There are no new-wave Godardian political metaphors present here, neither are there the... Read more
Published 3 months ago by marshall netse
Introduction to Wim Wenders - A Brilliant Road Movie
Brilliantly evocative travelogue riding on the back of an equally intriguing story concerning the attempt of a flared-trousered troubador to return the juvenile Alice to her... Read more
Published 4 months ago by not_a_real_folkie
euro road trip
Im a big fan of Paris Texas,have been since 1989 when it was on tv.Why did it take me till 2011 to watch this,well i was always put off by the fact its filmed in B/W and not... Read more
Published 9 months ago by agent smith
Alice in the Cities
This has always been one of my favourite films and it was great to be able to get it on DVD. Watching it again was a real treat. Read more
Published on 15 Aug 2009 by Mr. N. Bozic
A rewarding film
This film is both a delight and a disappointment. First, the disappointment. For speed & budgetary reasons, ALICE IN THE CITIES was shot on 16mm film stock. Read more
Published on 2 Aug 2009 by PhillyJQ
what "leon" failed to be
Wim wenders shot this movie with an ease that is apparent in every shot, no need for explanations, for voice overs, for apparent music, just face expressions, beautiful images,... Read more
Published on 28 Mar 2009 by Josie Reich
Ponderous and aimless.
I was very disappointed with this film. Slow almost to the point of being unwatchable, with a superficial plot and sparse unilluminating dialogue. Read more
Published on 15 Jan 2009 by Ocelot Octagon
BRILLIANT
This is a great story and shot with the smallest budget ($250,000) - one of my favourite Wenders' films and one of those films you only realise how good it was a few days after... Read more
Published on 30 Jun 2008 by K. power
more more more...
I will happily review this film based on the aged VHS copy I have had for many years. It is a wonderful film, beautifully shot, exploring emotions, themes and IDEAS that are as... Read more
Published on 30 Mar 2008 by P. Keeling
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