Wrong Move (1975)

A writer goes on a road trip across West Germany with a group of eclectic people he meets along the way.

Director:

Wim Wenders

Writers:

Peter Handke (screenplay), Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (novel) (as Johann Wolfgang Goethe)

Stars:

Rüdiger Vogler, Hanna Schygulla, Hans Christian Blech

6 wins & 1 nomination.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Rüdiger Vogler	...	Wilhelm
Hans Christian Blech	...	Laertes
Hanna Schygulla	...	Therese Farner
Nastassja Kinski	...	Mignon (as Nastassja Nakszynski)
Peter Kern	...	Bernhard Landau
Ivan Desny	...	Industrieller / The Industrialist
Marianne Hoppe	...	Mutter / The Mother
Lisa Kreuzer	...	Janine (as Elisabeth Kreuzer)
Adolf Hansen	...	Schaffner (as Adolph Hansen)
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Gustav Leonhardt	...	Johann Sebastian Bach, form film 'Chronik der Anna Magdalena Bach' (archive footage)

Storyline

In search of inspiration, the hopeful author, Wilhelm, sets out on a lonely journey of enlightenment with his encouraging mother's blessing, leaving behind him his hometown of Glückstadt. In high hopes of finding something to write, Wilhelm wanders about unknown and faceless towns; however, he is not alone. A weary old father and his silent teenage daughter; a well-known actress, and an Austrian wannabe poet become Wilhelm's companions in his never-ending quest to broaden his horizons; nevertheless, the fear of making one wrong move, and an inadvertent mistake seem to stand in the way of discovering his identity. Will Wilhelm find the truth and the miracle he seeks in the snow-capped summit of the Zugspitze?

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Plot Keywords:

underaged female nudity | female underage nudity | underage nudity | girl man relationship | road movie | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Did You Know?

Trivia

The long walk is in the wine region from where Wenders' mother comes. The gunshots are real and are made by some of the neighbors. One of them is on a moped.

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Connections

Featured in Century of Cinema: Die Nacht der Regisseure (1995)

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Soundtracks

Goldberg Variation, 25 Variation
Written by Johann Sebastian Bach

User Reviews

Wilhelm doesn't like people.

"The Wrong Movement" is the second of three films by Wim Wenders about a disaffected man (in each case played by Rüdiger Vogler) searching for himself out on the open road. Unlike the first (Alice in the Cities) and third (Kings of the Road) films, this one is infinitely less accessible. It's the talkiness that brings it down in the end. Each character seems especially in touch with their own highly specific brand of angst. It's almost too easy to identify with, all the abstract alienation. We all feel it sometimes, but do we actually spend so much time speaking of it? This depiction of dark truth doesn't make it a good story, only an honest one.

The actors are good (Nastassja Kinski plays a mute, in her first role), but the characters are cold. The dialogue is impressive, yet bereft of all beauty. On some inherent level, it's apparent that all the characters deeply despise one another. Wilhelm himself testifies at the very start to his dislike of people. Wim Wenders seems to be doing very much the same. Only, this time, it doesn't make for a very good film. Its shorter length is almost a relief.

Details

Country:

West Germany

Language:

German

Release Date:

22 October 1975 (France)

Also Known As:

The Wrong Movement

Filming Locations:

Bonn, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany

Box Office

Budget:

DEM620,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Albatros Produktion, Solaris Film, Westdeutscher Rundfunk (WDR)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

103 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1