The American Friend (1977) (original) (raw)
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Original title
Der Amerikanische Freund (The American Friend)
Year
1977
Running time
121 min.
Country
Germany - West Germany (FRG)
Director
Screenwriter
Cast
Music
Cinematography
Producer
Co-production Germany - West Germany (FRG)-Germany-France;
Genre
Thriller. Drama | Crime. Neo-noir. Road Movie. Cult movie
Movie Groups
Patricia Highsmith Adaptations
Synopsis
Jonathan Zimmermann, a picture framer in Hamburg is diagnosed as having leu leukemia. Ripley, an American art dealer dealing in forgeries, uses this fact to arrange for a mob associate of his to recruit Zimmermann as a hit man. Zimmermann agrees to this because this would ensure his family's financial future. Zimmermann descends into a nightmare world of deceit and double dealing. The narrative acts as a metaphor for the relationship between American (Hollywood) and post-war German culture. The appearance of several Hollywood directors in cameo roles underlines this.
Rankings Position
Awards
1977: Cannes Film Festival: Nominated for Palme d'Or (Best Film)
1977: César Awards: Best Foreign Film
1977: 3 German Film Award: including Best Director
1977: National Society of Film Critics (NSFC): nominated to Best Cinematography.
1977: National Board of Review (NBR): nominated to Top Five Foreing Films.
1979: Sant Jordi Awards: Best International Performance.
Critics' reviews
- "This is a Wenders masterwork--a chilling tale of painting, crime and forgery"
- "Wenders' unsettling compositions are neurotically beautiful visions of a disordered world, but the film doesn't have the nasty, pleasurable cleverness of a good thriller"
- "Superb adaptation of Patricia Highsmith's novel Ripley's Game, with Hopper as her amiably cynical hero."
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Ranking Lists Position
- 30 My Favorite German Movies (42)
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