The story: Wilhelm lives in Gluckstad (NW Germany, on the Elbe) with his mother but is dissatisfied. His mother decides to sell their apartmnt, and gives him some money and a train ticket to Bonn. On the way to Bonn he meets several people who he travels further with - an old man with nosebleeds and his young dumb companion; a famous actress; a hopeful poet. On the road they meet scenes from other peoples lives; some they meet and leave, others they take part in, briefly. Wilhelm craves to be a writer but finds it difficult to observe, or have pity...
My opinion: unlike Alice im den Stadten (Alice in the cities) and Im Lauf der Zeit (Kings of the Road), in colour; but much more sombre... as usual with beautiful long shots from Wenders favourite cameraman, Robby Muller, and some wistful music at times. But, again as usual, it is in the silences that there is more meaning than in the words. If this makes no sense, this movie is not for you. That said, I'm not sure it is for me, either - it is more sad than `Alice' or `Kings of the road', even, and without the redeeming parts - maybe because it is after a book by Goethe? Beautiful, but infinitely sad... about loneliness, the impossibility to connect with others, about undefined longing for perfection maybe. I love 'Alice' and 'Lauf der Zeit', but on first viewing this movie is more difficult to love.