Phillip Winter, a film sound recorder, is summoned by his friend Friedrich Monroe to Lisbon. Monroe, a director of a film he has been shooting in and around the city is not on hand to meet his friend, who has traveled from Germany only to find a deserted apartment and pieces of the film his friend was working on. Phillip finds himself surrounded by children of the neighborhood, who found in Friedrich's apartment a welcome place where to escape.
Since no one seems to know where the illusive director is, Phillip decides to go to the places shown in the rough copy of the film he found. To make matters worse, Phillip has a broken leg which makes his walks of discovery of the city, as he ventures through the ancient Alfama district as well as parts of Lisbon seldom seen, looking for sounds that will be added to the film his friend made.
Phillip is also fascinated by the neighbors of the apartment house, the musical group Madredeus. Their haunting songs attract Phillip, clearly moved by the melodious songs. As the group embarks on a South American tour, Phillip begins straying further into other parts of the city where he follows a little boy that holds the key to finding his friend. Friedrich has been living in an empty car in the outskirts of Lisbon wondering how to put the film he started to make in viewing shape.
An interesting film from Wim Wenders a man that knows a thing, or two, about making movies. The director is our guide on a tour of a mysterious old city that is in danger of losing its historic core. The newer parts of town pale in comparison with the Alfama area where the real people of Lisbon live. Friedrich had captured them in vivid images without a sound. Phillip is instrumental in adding a layer to what his friend had seen prior to his arrival.
A wonderful Rudigler Vogler makes an impression as Phillip. The actor is the main reason for watching the film. Patrick Bauchau plays Friedrich, who only shows up toward the end. The great Manoel De Oliveira, himself a distinguished Portuguese director is seen in a monologue within the film Phillip finds.
Since no one seems to know where the illusive director is, Phillip decides to go to the places shown in the rough copy of the film he found. To make matters worse, Phillip has a broken leg which makes his walks of discovery of the city, as he ventures through the ancient Alfama district as well as parts of Lisbon seldom seen, looking for sounds that will be added to the film his friend made.
Phillip is also fascinated by the neighbors of the apartment house, the musical group Madredeus. Their haunting songs attract Phillip, clearly moved by the melodious songs. As the group embarks on a South American tour, Phillip begins straying further into other parts of the city where he follows a little boy that holds the key to finding his friend. Friedrich has been living in an empty car in the outskirts of Lisbon wondering how to put the film he started to make in viewing shape.
An interesting film from Wim Wenders a man that knows a thing, or two, about making movies. The director is our guide on a tour of a mysterious old city that is in danger of losing its historic core. The newer parts of town pale in comparison with the Alfama area where the real people of Lisbon live. Friedrich had captured them in vivid images without a sound. Phillip is instrumental in adding a layer to what his friend had seen prior to his arrival.
A wonderful Rudigler Vogler makes an impression as Phillip. The actor is the main reason for watching the film. Patrick Bauchau plays Friedrich, who only shows up toward the end. The great Manoel De Oliveira, himself a distinguished Portuguese director is seen in a monologue within the film Phillip finds.