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Kings of the Road

Original title: Im Lauf der Zeit
  • 1976
  • Not Rated
  • 2h 55m
IMDb RATING
7.7/10
6.1K
YOUR RATING
Kings of the Road (1976)
Watch Trailer [DE]
Play trailer3:11
1 Video
78 Photos
Drama

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

  • Director
    • Wim Wenders
  • Writer
    • Wim Wenders
  • Stars
    • Rüdiger Vogler
    • Hanns Zischler
    • Lisa Kreuzer
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    7.7/10
    6.1K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Wim Wenders
    • Writer
      • Wim Wenders
    • Stars
      • Rüdiger Vogler
      • Hanns Zischler
      • Lisa Kreuzer
    • 20User reviews
    • 30Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 3 wins & 1 nomination

    Videos1

    Trailer [DE]
    Trailer 3:11
    Watch Trailer [DE]

    Photos78

    Kings of the Road (1976)
    Rüdiger Vogler and Hanns Zischler in Kings of the Road (1976)
    Kings of the Road (1976)
    Kings of the Road (1976)
    Kings of the Road (1976)
    Kings of the Road (1976)
    Kings of the Road (1976)
    Kings of the Road (1976)
    Kings of the Road (1976)
    Kings of the Road (1976)
    Kings of the Road (1976)
    Kings of the Road (1976)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Rüdiger Vogler
    Rüdiger Vogler
    • Bruno Winter
    Hanns Zischler
    Hanns Zischler
    • Robert Lander
    Lisa Kreuzer
    Lisa Kreuzer
    • Pauline - Cashier
    Rudolf Schündler
    Rudolf Schündler
    • Robert's Father
    Marquard Bohm
    Marquard Bohm
    • Man Who Lost His Wife
    Hans Dieter Trayer
    • Paul - Garage Owner
    • (as Dieter Traier)
    Franziska Stömmer
    • Cinema Owner
    Patric Kreuzer
    • Little Boy
    • (as Patrick Kreuzer)
    Peter Kaiser
    • Masturbating Projectionist
    • (uncredited)
    Wim Wenders
    Wim Wenders
    • Spectator at Pauline's Theater
    • (uncredited)
    Michael Wiedemann
    • Teacher
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Wim Wenders
    • Writer
      • Wim Wenders
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      There had basically been no script for the movie. Except for the first scene after the opening credits when the two protagonists meet each other, everything is improvised or developed on set.
    • Goofs
      The VW beetle driven into the Elbe river is not visible anymore when Robert reaches the waterside. Later after Bruno hands over an espresso to Robert, the beetle is shown as finally sinking.
    • Quotes

      Robert Lander: What are you writing?

      Little Boy: I'm describing a train station. Everything I see.

      Robert Lander: And what do you see?

      Little Boy: The tracks, the gravel, the timetable, the sky, the clouds. A man with a suitcase. An empty suitcase!

    • Crazy credits
      Opening credits provide the aspect ratio and other technical specifications of the film to come.
    • Connections
      Featured in Motion and Emotion: The Films of Wim Wenders (1990)
    • Soundtracks
      Just Like Eddie
      Written by Geoff Goddard

      Performed by Heinz Burt (as Heinz)

    User reviews20

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    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.
    helpful•14
    4
    • jandesimpson
    • Sep 12, 2002

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • January 1977 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • West Germany
    • Languages
      • German
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Im Lauf der Zeit
    • Filming locations
      • Künsche, Lüchow, Lower Saxony, Germany(Robert at the gas station looking for his way)
    • Production companies
      • Westdeutscher Rundfunk (WDR)
      • Wim Wenders Productions
      • Wim Wenders Stiftung
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

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    • Budget
      • DEM 680,000 (estimated)
    • Gross worldwide
      • $284
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

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    • Runtime
      2 hours 55 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.66 : 1

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