‘Alice in the Cities’ is a poignant 1974 road movie directed by Wim Wenders. It follows a disillusioned German journalist and a young girl as they embark on an unexpected journey across Europe to search for her grandmother. The film is an early entry in Wenders’ exploration of identity, alienation, and the nomadic experience.
Philip Winter (Rüdiger Vogler), a German writer, is working on a story about the American landscape in the United States. However, he struggles with writer’s block and cannot produce anything meaningful. Instead of writing, he obsessively takes Polaroid photographs to capture something elusive in the vast American scenery. His frustration grows, and he returns to Germany after failing to deliver his article.
At John F. Kennedy Airport in New York, Winter encounters a German woman (Lisa Kreuzer) and her nine-year-old daughter, Alice (Yella Rottländer). The woman persuades Winter to accompany Alice back to Germany, promising to follow them on a later flight. However, when they arrive in Amsterdam, Alice’s mother is nowhere to be found, and Winter realizes he is responsible for the young girl.
With only a vague memory of Alice’s grandmother’s house in Germany and a single photograph as a clue, Winter and Alice embark on a road trip through the country in search of her home. An unlikely bond forms between them as they travel by car and train. Initially irritated by Alice’s presence, Winter gradually softens, and Alice, though initially wary, begins to trust him.
As they wander various towns, Alice proves resilient, sharp, and independent beyond her years, often challenging Winter’s cynicism. Their travels contrast Winter’s existential disconnection and Alice’s youthful curiosity. Their dynamic oscillates between playful and tense moments, but their companionship strengthens.
Their journey eventually leads them to a small town where they believe Alice’s grandmother lives. Though the search is uncertain, the experience transforms Winter’s perspective on life. The film ends on an ambiguous yet hopeful note, with Winter seemingly rediscovering a sense of purpose and connection through his time with Alice.
‘Alice in the Cities’ is a beautifully shot black-and-white film by Robby Müller. It captures the melancholic beauty of landscapes and fleeting human connections. It is a cornerstone of Wenders’ road movie trilogy, emphasizing themes of displacement, memory, and the search for meaning.
The Other Cinema 