Arguably Wim Wenders' best movie is a sum of his work and his artistry and also presents the haphazardness of film-making, photographed in beautiful black-and-white images; alone, the entrance sequence of the post-apocalyptic sci-fi film demonstrates what Wenders would Wenders himself could have done with such a project.

The Wim Wenders retrospective at our local cinematheque ended with one of the most interesting films of the German director. 'Der Stand der Dinge' (the English title is 'The State of Things') is very representative for his career, including many of the features that make up the charm and interest of Wenders' films, as well as some of the elements that make his movies difficult. In other words, we can find here the reasons why we love him, but also part of the motives because of which some do not like Wenders.

Movies about movies are a special genre. Many famous directors are at their best in movies that talk about their job. Wim Wenders also approaches the genre in some of his films, but Wenders being who he is, these creations look different than the rest. In 'Der Stand der Dinge' we're dealing with three movies. The beginning seems to belong to the genre of post-apocalyptic horror films, but after a few minutes we realize that it is a film in film, we actually witness the filming of a production titled 'The Survivors', somewhere in Portugal. Shortly, the shootings will stop, because the team is left without the precious black-and-white film. Gordon, the producer of the movie, disappeared without a trace, and Friedrich, the director, beckons how to find him and maintain the morale of the film team. As they are logged in a deserted hotel near Lisbon, actors and technicians plunge into boredom and alcohol. This part, taking place in the hotel is the second film, maybe a homage, maybe a parody or perhaps a combination of homage and parody of Bergman's and Antonioni's existentialist cinema. When a desperate Friedrich embarks on a trip to Los Angeles in search of the producer in order to save his film, the style and ambience change altogether. The third film has all the features of a 'film noir' with gangsters and ... filmmakers on the background of Hollywood.

The main problem of the film is the length of the second part, which is likely to make victims among those who are not passionate about existentialist cinema, or have not enough patience and confidence that Wim Wenders will reward them in the end. In the cinema theater where I saw the movie, about half of the spectators left about halfway through the screening. I believe however they have reason to regret it, because the end is not only cinematically gorgeous, but it also gives a rationale to everything that has happened before, while asking some perene questions about the relationships between directors and producers, between tradition and modernity, between American commercial cinema and European 'art' cinema. The acting of the whole team is excellent, even if some characters are just sketched. The cinematography partly belongs to Henri Alekan, an operator who brought his talent to some of the masterpieces of post-war cinema, both in Europe and Hollywood. The music combines jazz and rock, with Jim Jarmusch being one of the composers, at the time when his brilliant and original directorial career was just taking off. 'Der Stand der Dinge' is a very interesting film, with many cinematic references, an intellectual challenge to the viewers, who will be rewarded if they show enough patience.

The film is slow, but very nice, because really shows life as it is. It talks about a director who shoots a movie without knowing that its budget will be cut off. Once he embarks on a journey to the U.S., where his film has been funded, he sank into the muddy waters of the life of his sponsor. The action in the film gradually speeds up and it is not very surprising.

The music is also very good. Throughout the movie repeats the same theme, which is quite strange. Finally, however, it develops and displays all its importance... In the end is time for the real action.

You have to watch this movie!

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