Paris, Texas (1984) review

“He was surprised at himself because he didn't feel anything anymore. All he wanted to do was sleep. And for the first time, he wished he were far away. Lost in a deep, vast country where nobody knew him. Somewhere without language, or streets. He dreamed about this place without knowing its name. And when he woke up, he was on fire. There were blue flames burning the sheets of his bed. He ran through the flames toward the only two people he loved, but they were gone. His arms were burning, and he threw himself outside and rolled on the wet ground. Then he ran. He never looked back at the fire. He just ran. He ran until the sun came up and he couldn't run any further. And when the sun went down, he ran again. For five days he ran like this until every sign of man had disappeared.”
    Every time I watch this film a part of my soul dies. This film shows realistically pain and loss. It’s essentially a film about a man who is realizing that he needs forgive himself by ultimately facing the people who he once turned his back on. The scene when Travis (Stanton) and his ex-wife (Kinski) are having a conversation is one of the most touching yet heart-wrenching scenes I have ever seen in any film. I will never forget that scene because it’s so powerful. And in the end Travis is like John Wayne in “The Searchers” when he realizes what he must do.
      Harry Dean Stanton gives a superb performance playing Travis who is an aging man that is wrinkled up from life’s many blows. Yet he is a kindhearted and calm man regardless of his many inner demons. ‘Paris, Texas’ is just way too beautiful for words; it’s like a transcendent poem of loss, love, seclusion, and redemption. I highly recommend viewing this film.

5 out of 5