Interview German filmmaker Wim Wenders looks again to his homeland

By Christine Pirovolakis Nov 26, 2006, 11:27 GMT

Thessaloniki, Greece - After almost three decades of filmmaking, 12 years of which were spent living and working in the United States, acclaimed German filmmaker Wim Wenders' next project will take him back home.

Back living in Berlin for the past year, Wenders said in an interview with Deutsche Presse Agentur dpa that he is preparing and writing his next film in his homeland, using German actors.

'Twelve years is a long time that I have not lived in my country and worked in my own language,' he said in the northern Greek port city of Thessaloniki, where a special tribute is being paid to his work in the 47th International Film Festival ending Sunday.

'I never speak about a movie that I have still not started yet. I know that it will be in Germany and it will take place mostly in the East of Germany, a part of the country that I have only had the chance to know for the last 15 years.'

The son of a surgeon, Wenders was born in 1945 in Dusseldorf. Following his studies, he founded the Filmverlag der Autoren production and distribution cooperative together with 14 other filmmakers in 1971, which was to play a fundamental role in the development of what was to be known as the 'new German cinema.'

He achieved international recognition with his film 'Alice in the Cities', one of the films his Road Movie Trilogy which was to turn Wenders into what many see as Germany's most important filmmaker.

He was awarded the Golden Palm at the Cannes Festival for 'Paris, Texas' and the best Director Prize for 'Wings of Desire'.

Following a number of difficulties, Wenders finally managed to complete his ambitious 'Until the End of the World', a film that can only wholly be appreciated in its director's cut version.

More recently, a series of music documentaries, 'Buena Vista Social Club', 'The Soul of a Man' have been widely acclaimed.

Despite the fact that his last fiction films are directly linked with America, Wenders has never missed a chance in all these years to stand up for the idea and significance of European cinema and is an excellent example of a film director, who, in spite of his international fame, has remained independent, opting to stay away from commercial cinema.

'I think that there is a whole new way of filmmaking about to wipe away the present day hierarchy of distribution and the distribution of film print...currently, it is a very narrow door that only half of those films shot can enter,' he said.

'There are a number of filmmakers that cannot get through the door or do not want to get through any more, and are looking for different ways to get their films out - this will come relatively fast and will change the industry as we know it,' he added.

Asked what advice he can give to young filmmakers, Wenders, said: 'I think that if you have something to say today you better make sure that you do not have much money.

'I have enjoyed making my best films with very small budgets.'