Alice In The Cities Explained

[@MHermes-eg6ex]

Great commentary for a long-lost film I had seen in the 80s. It brings back some of the wonders I felt seeing it. Thanks!

[@boudusaved4719]

Matthew, you did an excellent job analyzing this film and the subtle things (the images and mistakes that were captured, certain lines of dialogue) you noticed that might bypass a more casual viewer. I was so focused on the relaxed flow of the film and the characters because the acting was so natural, as was the dialogue, that I didn't pay attention to the intent behind the shots or the sparse dialogue which made the film feel more like an improvised story. I love road movies or movies where two seemingly opposite characters go through a journey that brings them together and to love each other (like "Central Station" and even "Planes, Trains and Automobiles"). Wim Wenders' film "Wings of Desire" was one of the first foreign films I saw in a theater back in the early 90s and it single-handedly catapulted my love of foreign film. Wenders is one of the best directors of all time and "Alice in the Cities" is definitely one of his best, for all the reasons you mentioned. I was shocked that the mother left Alice with a relative stranger believing he would take her to Amsterdam. But maybe the intent was to shock. I found Philip a trustworthy character and yet I knew him only as well as the mother did. I was also shocked Alice could so easily elude the police and find Philip later that day, but I love that Philip laughed when he saw her because it showed he missed her. Putting aside the underlying themes of post WWII German trauma and hope for rediscovery, I think the story is also about how life can be dull at times and sometimes it feels that it's just geography that puts friendships together, but if one values a relationship, even if it is forced, there could be something to gain from it. It can give purpose to life.

[@eltfell]

Yella Rottländer, the actor of Alice, today works as medical doctor in hospital in St. Gallen, Switzerland.

[@captn_maverick]

That is so interesting. Myself, I’m in last year of medical faculty. Soon gonna be doctor myself. Today I saw this movie in theatre and now trying to chew and understand. Maybe I should just feel.

[@sebuphillipp8593]

This was the best movie explanation I’ve ever watched, I want more. I will check again to see if another video has dropped.

[@matthewsgrizzi]

Thank you so much. I’m working on some other videos hopefully the next one is out next month

[@jamesthorner2555]

Thanks for this, I loved this film

[@SergioPineros-fu9ru]

Thank you very much for your excellent analysis. Powerful, poetic and true. Saw this film 30 years ago at the Filmoteca, Madrid. After living 28 years in the USA after leaving Spain as an infant, I, like Phillip, was trying to find myself. This film and your commentary have made a strong impression. Best wishes!

[@matthewsgrizzi]

@@SergioPineros-fu9ru Thank you, your words are incredibly kind!

[@emiliaburgos5404]

I love this movie

[@hankcao5415]

This analysis is amazing and brilliant! Thank you so much!

[@salbeitee2]

hi, i watched this movie yesterday because I wanted to get into 70s german cinema. I interpreted the movie completely different, in a more personal, individualistic way but your viewpoint was very interesting to hear and makes sense. I never thought abt it comparing the way wenders uses cinema to the way it was during the NS regime. so thanks for giving some cinematic historical context of the movie greetings from germany :)

[@r.a.mpictures]

I loved this, so many layers go into projects, hidden meanings, deeper meanings and the face value of a film. Your breakdown was terrific, keep it up man I'll definitely check back in 👌.

[@davidtausiet]

Loved your analysis of the film and found the Wenders quotes very interesting. My only advice is to speak just a tiny bit more slowly, there is so much information packed into each minute of the video that at some points it was hard to keep my concentration and catch everything at first. Also, your voice is very soothing! Hope to find more analysis like this one in your channel 😄

[@redumbrella4218]

Great job! Thank you so much! The Swimmer is a lovely film, if you ever have a chance to review!

[@birotomodachi]

I’ve just finished watching Alice in the cities and loved it. I really valued your analysis. Recently watched Wim Wender’s Perfect Days. Would be interesting to hear your thoughts on that.

[@piratefry]

im doing a project on this film and this is a really good analysis that'll help me start my presentation

[@matthewsgrizzi]

Thank you! Glad I could help

[@bobleponge9150]

This was great, thank you

[@stevenminnerly5336]

I know exactly where the first scene is because I went there everyday for years. It was a stop on my route.

[@Hipolito.Steinbeck]

Awesome!!!

[@thesoundofonemanlaughing]

Really nice essay :)

[@timothy9734]

Thanks for this analysis!

[@PalmettoHearts]

thank you xx

[@dzonutube]

you're referencing nazi Germany was maybe hyperbolic, but it was and is my fav movie-genius.

[@saltydog4759]

While I found some of your observations to be sound ones, I thought you perhaps overplayed the haunting of a violent, war torn past as motivation for so many words and actions within this film. Wender used black and white as a necessity, not for some comparison of old nazi propaganda films. I think this story is more about more about hanging on to hope and vanquishing a paradigm of living a life fueled by abstraction. I believe to pigeon-hole this brilliant story into one theme on the Nazi past is to misunderstand it. I think the film itself handled this deftly as it vaguely at times harkened to it. I believe the dichotomy between his homeland and that of the United States is the impetus for his haste to return to Germany, not turn away from it. He comes to understand that American influence is inevitable when he sees with this young girls' eyes. Being at peace with trading a repugnant past with a lesser repugnant influence is the new. "Do you like rock and roll?" " Yes"

[@matthewsgrizzi]

I agree that the film is about hanging on to hope and all that, but it also is very much a film about a man coming to terms with the past of the nazis. I wouldn’t have fully thought so if Wenders himself didn’t literally say so himself. A lot of what I said isn’t mere speculation he’s outright said most of that. A bunch of it is in the article I quote for the video it’s worth a read. Sure the black and white film was what he had but he also acknowledges it’s use in Germanys past. I think what’s so brilliant about the film is if you’re not thinking about it you don’t need to read into the Nazi stuff. I definitely don’t think I’m pigeon-holing the film. I think there’s so much you can take away without knowing any of Wenders background. On its own the film is a lovely tale of a man coming to terms with himself, but it’s all there under the surface if you’re willing to see it.

[@ectoplasma5]

"I don't know how to live either.Nobody showed me how to live either." Hit hard. Brilliant.

[@PaulVanced-jl5gk]

Um..... no

[@amosnoir9238]

bullshit