Im Lauf der Zeit - Wim Wenders (1976)

Director: Wim Wenders
Writer: Wim Wenders
West Germany - 1976 - B&W
Cast: Rüdiger Vogler, Hanns Zischler, Lisa Kreuzer, Rudolf Schündler, Marquard Bohm

Kings of the Road, focuses on the relationship that develops between two men - movie projector repairman Bruno and suicidal Robert - as they travel in a truck on the dusty roads along the border between East and West Germany. Lonely and introspective, they both long for the company of women. By the end of their journey, they derive comfort from the fact that "in the course of time" (the film's German title) their lives have taken on some shape and some significance.

"KINGS OF THE ROAD is a quiet, almost lyrical film that disdains psychological motivation, suspense and dramatic tension. In that sense, it reflects Wenders's admiration for the films of Yasujiro Ozu".

In its intricate allusions and resonant implications, it evokes Wenders's favorite themes: the difficulties of communication, the Americanization of German life ("The Yanks have colonized our subconscious," one of the characters says) and the fate of German cinema, which is done by showing the number of movie theaters that have either closed down or resorted to showing X-rated films.

Third part of Wenders' "Road Movie Trilogy" which included Alice in den Städten (Alice in the Cities) (1974) and Falsche Bewegung (Wrong Move) (1975).