Im Lauf der Zeit (1976)

User Rating:

8.0/10   

Director:

Wim Wenders

Writer:

Wim Wenders (writer)

Release Date:

January 1977 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

A traveling projection-equipment mechanic travels in Western Germany along the East-German border, visiting worn-out film-theatres. meets up with a depressed young man whose marriage has just broken up, and the two decide to travel together. |

Plot Keywords:

Travel | Border | Film Projector | Projectionist | Road

Awards:

1 win & 1 nomination

Cast

Rüdiger Vogler	...	Bruno Winter
Hanns Zischler	...	Robert Lander
Lisa Kreuzer	...	Pauline, cashier
Rudolf Schündler	...	Robert's Father
Marquard Bohm	...	Man Who Lost His Wife
Hans Dieter Trayer	...	Paul, garage owner (as Dieter Traier)
Franziska Stömmer	...	Cinema owner
Patric Kreuzer	...	Little boy
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Wim Wenders	...	Spectator at Pauline's Theater
Peter Kaiser	...	Movie presenter (uncredited)
Michael Wiedemann	...	Teacher (uncredited)

Directed by
Wim Wenders

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Wim Wenders		writer

Produced by
Wim Wenders	....	producer

Original Music by
Axel Linstädt

Cinematography by
Robby Müller
Martin Schäfer

Film Editing by
Peter Przygodda

Production Design by
Bernd Hirskorn
Heidi Lüdi

Sound Department
Bruno Bollhalder	....	sound
Martin Müller	....	sound engineer
Paul Schöler	....	sound

Camera and Electrical Department
Martin Schäfer	....	assistant camera

Editorial Department
Barbara von Weitershausen	....	assistant editor

Other crew
Hans Dreher	....	technical director
Renée Gundelach	....	consultant

Production Companies

• Westdeutscher Rundfunk (WDR)
• Wim Wenders Productions

Distributors

• Bauer International (1977) (USA) (theatrical) (subtitled)
• Europa Filmes (2007) (Brail) (DVD) (original German version, Portuguese subtitles)
• Kinowelt Home Entertainment (2005) (Germany) (DVD)
• Ripley's Home Video (2006) (Italy) (DVD)
• Sandrew Metronome Distribution (2009) (Finland) (DVD)

Also Known As:

Kings of the Road (USA)
Ao Correr do Tempo (Portugal) [pt]
Au fil du temps (France) [fr]
En el curso del tiempo (Spain) [es]
Kings of the Road (Finland) (DVD title) [fi]
Med tidens gång (Sweden) [sv]
Nel corso del tempo (Italy) [it]
No Decurso do Tempo (Brazil) [pt]
Sto perasma tou hronou (Greece) [el]
V behu casu (Czechoslovakia) [cs]
Z biegiem czasu (Poland) [pl]

Runtime:

175 min

Country:

West Germany

Language:

German | English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

South Korea:18 | Brazil:14 | New Zealand:R16 | Finland:K-11 | Hong Kong:III | Singapore:R(A) | Sweden:7 | UK:18 | West Germany:18

Filming Locations:

Bavaria, Germany

Company:

Westdeutscher Rundfunk (WDR)

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Wanderlust (2006) (TV)

Soundtrack:

If I Could Read Her MInd

A journey well worth taking

Wim Wenders's "Kings of the Road" differs from most road movies insofar as it does not quite conform to the conventions of the genre - a setting out, a journey and an arrival. Its two protagonists, Bruno, a cinema equipment maintenance mechanic and Robert, a pediatrician, have already commenced their journeys before the film begins and there is no clearly defined destination at the end. True, their initial encounter marks the beginning of a developing friendship but Wenders does not seem to be particularly interested in where it will take them, rather is it the minutiae of the journey itself that is all important. With a running time of three hours in which very little happens, it would be easy to dismiss the film as self-indulgent. But this would be to miss the point, which is a recreation of the rhythm of everyday life. In the case of Bruno we are aware of every little thing he does. He climbs naked out of his van. Later we watch him shave, and at one point we see him defecating in an open landscape in a middle distance shot held for as long as the act takes. Appropriately there are no such candid camera shots of Robert. He is an altogether more complex and private person. Estranged from his wife, he is clearly on the cusp of suicide when we first meet him. Playing "chicken" by closing his eyes while driving, he ends up in the river. He climbs out of his immobilized vehicle unaided, to be helped on his way by Bruno who is the only witness to the misadventure. The couple barely talk for some time, but a bond of friendship gradually develops between them so that Robert becomes Bruno's companion during his tour of cinemas in small towns on the East/West German border. And that is about all there is to it really. Except that the very feel of the flat landscapes, the river, the open road, level crossings and seedy cinemas takes one over, so that one hardly notices the minutes ticking away. This journey may be of little consequence but Wender's acute eyes and ears for detail make it one well worth taking.