German director Wim Wenders made Paris Texas in 1984. He co-wrote the script with Sam Shepard. Paris Texas was Wender’s first “American” film and in preparation, he toured around the country as a kind of wandering observer. As a result, the film Paris Texas has a strong sense of place. You can see Wender’s interest and engagement in the scrubby desert where the movie is set. The scene this essay is concerned with takes place indoors, but still, the location plays a key role in how the drama unfolds.
