Alain Tanner – Dans la Ville Blanche / In the White City / (1983)

Filmed in Lisbon 11 years before Wenders’ “Lisbon Story” (published here ) by a Swiss director Alain Tanner, and probably his best film, with Bruno Ganz and Teresa Madruga…one of the favourite films of mine, and also one of favourites of FNB.47 ‘s…

Specially dedicated to FNB.47, of all films, this is the best one I can present him!











At the beginning of the film, Ganz remarks to a barmaid that the clock in her bar is not indicating the right time. She replies: “The clock is right. It’s the world that is wrong.”











anyone to translate if possible, please?



























“I don’t know more than I used to”


I've looked for some reviews on Imdb and elsewhere, but I must admit I didn't find a satisfactory one which could talk about this film … therefore, I encourage you to write comments below…for me, I can’t really say what this film is about. Is it about Time? Is it about Love? About the Water, about the Sea, about Air, or Wind? I don’t even think we should ask ourselves this question, it’s better to let ourselves go and enjoy this poetic film which is so rarely full of Life! It’s much deeper than it appears on the first look, and I think it’s one of those that succed in touching “the other dimension”…and the fact it was made in Lisbon is just a gift to our eyes!









Music in the film was superbly performed by Jean-Luc Barbier. If someone has got some of his music, it would be most welcome to add some links in the comment…