Sam Mendes on Paris, Texas

Oscar-winning director Sam Mendes discusses Wim Wenders' Paris, Texas (1984) and explains how it inspired his own American Beauty (1999) and Road to Perdition (2002). Mendes also talks about adapting Charlie and the Chocolate Factory for the theatre and teases details on the next James Bond film. This BFI members' event series is presented in partnership with American Express.

[goytabr]

A "screen epiphany" is a fit description for what I felt watching "Paris, Texas." There was not a single scene that didn't strike me deep somehow, for some reason. I remember how I left the movie theatre in tears, not out of sadness, but because "sometimes there's so much beauty in the world, I feel like I can't take it." So, it's totally appropriate to see Sam Mendes talking about it. His "American Beauty" also hit so many chords, and even "Skyfall" was a 007 movie like no one had made before. Mendes also mentioned Lynch's "Blue Velvet" and the sheer boldness of it also made me awestruck when I first saw it. Great to see how great masters' works talk to each other.

[aaronhendrickson]

Just saw it for the first time at 37 years. It echoes many themes I've lived in my life, especially living with an absent father. I am glad i waited to watch til now, as i really don't think i could have understood it before. Truly an incredibly wonderful work, deeply sad but immensely beautiful, in a way that echoes real life. There's a sincerity to this film that is rarely seen anymore.

[jimhowaniec]

Paris Texas.... Greatest movie ever filmed.

[AlonsoRules]

Paris, Texas is a masterpiece of cinema. Perfect screenplay, perfect cinematography, perfect editing, perfect score and superb acting. One of those rare films that has no faults.

I was mesmerised by it just like Sam was. It's something very special.

[hupekyser]

I was 13 when I first watched Paris, Texas. It grabbed hold of me in a way i could not explain. Its a film that means a lot to me. About how a man loses himself, insecure about his masculinity and trying to make sense of himself. Ideas i struggled with too.

The romance of the American road movie really captivated me too.

[marnieandme]

Love this movie one of my favorite films of all time

[madahad]

I second every sentiment expressed by Sam Mendes. I saw the film at a local art theatre in '84. I had no idea who Wim Wenders was or unfamiliar with Sam Shepard except that he wrote plays and was an actor. Being a collaboration between a European and American sensibility has a very disorienting effect, very pleasant but it makes one feel like an alien in one's own country. I was absolutely enthralled by the film. This simple little story of a man wandering aimlessly, a wife and son he abandoned, and redemption and hope for all three. For Travis the ending is more ambiguous but I never felt sad that it didn't end in any sort conventional Hollywood way. It might have diminished the film somewhat if there was that cliche "warm fuzzy" moment between all three. It felt correct that Travis not share in that reunion between Jane and Hunter. He felt he had played his part and it was time to move on. This was so antithetical to the films I had previously watched and radically different from what Hollywood was producing. I was hungry for something like this. Thankfully the theatre where I saw this specialised in these types of films. It was my oasis. A couple years later I would have the joy to go back into Wim Wenders ' world with Wings of Desire. Although set in Germany but America is represented by the enchanting Peter Falk.

[emiliosg]

Paris Texas, Harry Dean Stanton. Love, Soul, pain, one woman, one child, one man, all in one. Love, sacrifice. Great movie.

[michaelthomas-hqfd]

Rich with perceptive and illuminating comments on this brilliant film. Mendes references his own under-rated The Road to Perdition, with that elegiac performance from a dying Paul Newman. Wenders and Mendes- two great story tellers.

[carlnielsen]

Funny to hear Sam Mendes telling, that he right after seeing it for the first time, went back to see it again. Because so did I. Actually I had seen a trailer, when I saw another movie. I know there are different trailers to "Paris Texas". But the one I saw was the one, that is mostly using the opening scene. That naked dessert, the look in the eyes of Stanton, and that detail that he is screwing the cork neatly back on the bottle before dropping it on the ground. And accompanied by those fantastic guitar slides. There was something about it. It was pure manic. I just knew I simply HAD to see that movie. So I did. And a few days later I went back and saw it again. I really wanted to watch it a third time but was out of money. One evening I was sitting in a sofa in the frontroom a few yards from the cinema hall (sorry if I am using some wrong words. English is not my main language.) just to hear those guitar slides. I was on a total "Paris Texas"-trip. I would not have been able to talk about all those technical things Mendes goes into. I am not sure I would have been able to explain anything at all about that film and what I liked about it. I was simply touched and taken away. An experience of pure manic!

[TurboMintyFresh]

Harry dean Stanton is mesmerising in this movie. Every word he utters has weight. His eyes are so honest and so sad

[haydengarinduchesne]

Such a great great movie my favorite movie hands down

[mariettestabel]

Paris Texas is a Brilliant Peace of ART. Thanks for sharing this. 💌
🎼👌 🌏

[el_mal_de_ojo]

A legitimate example of a perfect film - I'm so glad I only watched it for the first time in my 30s, I don't know if I would've had the emotional maturity earlier in my life to let the film wash over me as it did. I wish I could see it in a cinema. It was recently screened in several cinemas in London for the 40th anniversary and I was out of the country as it happened.

[benwalker]

Just watched Paris, Texas for the first time and I really need someone to explain what I just watched. It was a great film but I don't understand the subtleties, or what the message was. (I'm new to this type of cinema).

[joebainbridge]

Just saw the 4k re release at the same cinema he spoke of! It looks and is incredible

[TheHones]

I read the comments. Ok, a masterpiece, , but.. The music by Ry Cooder, was barely mentioned, , that soundtrack could only have been done by him and litterally makes you resonate with this masterpiece. You will never forget Ry Cooder after this.

[thesoultwins]

No mention of Robby Muller's stunning cinematography?!?

[Fassy]

Paris, Texas may be the film I've watched the most but I still haven't seen it on a big screen. One day!

[bobilks]

a great director commenting on a great film. we love to see it