Wrong Move [1975] [DVD]

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.

Like a lot of Wim Wenders films Wrong Move flows forwards and takes you with it through the well captured sights while been entertained by interesting characters. You are compelled to move forward with the film partly because of the journey and the characters but partly out of interest for where it might stop off.The film is easy on the eye on the eye and the protagonists well represented by the performances and dialogue. My problem with this film is I knew there was a deeper meaning to their relationships but didn't understand it while watching. It was not until I subsequently read reviews on here and IMDB that I realised the links to German culture and ideals from the time. Unfortunately, being English and watching Wrong Move 45 years late this passed over me.However, even for someone such as me there is an enjoyment and you can take pleasure from the way the film is directed, filmed and performed. If I had understood the inner meaning it would probably have earned 4 stars.

This is a German road movie in which an annoying man meets an actress, an old man and a girl, and they set off across Germany together;they meet a bloke who reads a bad dreary poem to them and, for some reason, they invite him to join them;then they meet a bloke in a house who starts conversations off with the likes of 'I was just about to kill myself' or 'I want to talk to you about loneliness.'Nothing really happens, which is fine with a road movie, but unfortunately almost all the time is spent by the characters saying pretentious and unrealistic cod-philosophical dialogue at each other; rather like the terrible Goethe book it's 'loosely based on,' and similarly is one of those things that few people will like other than pretentious writers and critics who think they're intellectual and tasteful but aren't really;For me, it became interesting as it plodded on, as one drifts off whilst contemplating how unintentionally funny it all is, and how good a film it would make if Monty Python or Steve Coogan did it.I haven't seen Wim Wenders other 3 main 70's films, and don't know if I will having seen this one, but I'd recommend Paris,Texas , which is a great film, and one in which there are interesting people, places , events and dialogue, and he left the pseudo-philosophy to one side; whether Paris, Texas is the exception, and all his others are largely drivel, I haven't seen enough of his other films to say.

I really love a lot of Wenders' films but this one left me cold.It is flattering to compare it with Alice in the Cities and Kings of the Road, two fantastic films. For me this was pretentious and unengaging. Even the cinematography by Robby Muller could not save it, some striking shots do not make for a rewarding film.The plot concerns Rudiger Vogler, who is always engaging, and a motley assortment of characters he meets. These characters are prone to much staring into the distance and pretentious monologues. I understand that Natassia Kinski in her first role as a mute performer represents the new Germany, while her companion symbolises Germany's Nazi past.Fortunately this film is not nearly as depressing as his earlier collaboration with Peter Handke, the Goalkeeper's Fear of the Penalty Kick, but it does have Bergman-esque chilliness, rather than the warmth that characterises the best of the Wenders' films. There are some memorable scenes, but overall this is arid and pretentious stuff.There is a feature length director commentary, some footage from when they were making the film and a booklet. According to the booklet the original aspect ratio was 1.66:1, while the DVD aspect ratio is 1.78:1 anamorphic, while the original film gauge was 35mm. As with the rest of this imprint from Axiom this is a classy pressing, but for me the film really is not that great.

Wrong Move is a typical Wim Wenders movie from the seventies, with his alter ego Rudiger Vogler as star actor and young Natascha Kinski and Hannah Schygulla as actresses. It is a more philosophical picture than his other movies from this period (Alice in the Cities, Kings of the Road), which are more realistic road movies in modern Germany. Wrong Move a philisophical touche because of the philosophical dialogues, which fill the greatest part of the film. The feeling of the movies is a kind of sadness: a young writer tries to find a goal in his life and he tries to discuss his thougths with his travelling companions, but he does not succeed in finding a satisfying place in modern Germany. The film contains beautiful shots of the German landscape, especially alongside the Rhine, while the actors travel by train or car, or walk alongside the river.