Outstanding film and yet another reason why I contend that 1984 was the single greatest year for film in modern movie history. Paris, Texas tells the story of a man who has been wandering the Texas desert for 4 years. He is found and over the course of the film, we see how he tries to reconnect with his family (including an estranged wife and young son as well as his brother & sister-in-law).
The film is a powerful meditation on life in the 1980’s but much of it may ring even more true today. Harry Dean Stanton (Alien, The Green Mile) gives a career best performance as the troubled man who is lost both figuratively and literally. Many famous people count this as their favorite film of all time (including two popular musicians Kurt Cobain and Elliot Smith) and it’s easy to see why. The film brings up questions around the meaning of life, our purpose, our ability to cope with society’s rules, etc. Note though that the slower pacing, long running time, and focus on characters instead of plot may turn off more modern film goers. That being said, if you are a film lover, this could be a new all time favorite. Can’t recommend this enough to film fans.