Paris Texas Mise-en-scene Analysis

WJEC Film Studies FILM ANALYSIS Mise en scéne

Paris, Texas (Wim Wenders, 1984) is a wonderful example of New German Cinema. Look carefully at the opening few minutes and then answer the following questions in brief: 1.

Comment on the use of music in the opening sequence. Does it help to locate the setting of the film?

2. What type of shot does the director start the film with? Does it help to locate the setting of the film?

3.

How do we first see the man, what type of shot? (Harry Dean Stanton) What does this suggest about his predicament?

4.

Comment on the use of the bird in the sequence? What kind of bird is it?

Is there a relationship between the bird and the man

5.

When do we first see the man close up? What strikes you about his appearance? What does this suggest about his plight?

6.

Is there anything odd about his behaviour with the water bottle?

7.

The man walks off into the desert. The shot is held for a long time.

What is the effect of this long take?

8.

In the next shot, when the man comes towards us, is he coming out of the same desert landscape? What can this mean? Given that he has walked a long way, is there anything odd about the way he is walking?

9.

There is no water in the tap so the man goes towards a building which turns out to be a bar. He opens the refrigerator. It is full of cold beer. Why do you think he doesn’t drink one but has ice instead?

10.

Having watched so far what sort of state would you describe the man to be in, or what do you think has happened?

11.

If you had to guess what genre this film is – what would be your guess?