THE AMERICAN FRIEND

THE AMERICAN FRIEND (DER AMERIKANISCHE FREUND), 1977

Germany, France | Blu-Ray, Color, 125’ | German, English, French

Director: Wim Wenders
Cast: Dennis Hopper, Bruno Ganz, Lisa Kreuzer

Adapted from the novel Ripley’s Game (Patricia Highsmith, 1974) by veteran director Wim Wenders, the film explores a question often posed in noir films: What compels a family man to become a killer? Jonathan Zimmerman is a picture framer who is terminally ill. He receives an offer to kill someone from Tom Ripley, a crook who deals in forged art. He must make a difficult decision when the opportunity arises for him to earn enough money to provide a comfortable life for his wife after his death. The American Friend offers an in-depth character analysis of two completely opposite types.