MUBI

As much as I love Stranger Than Paradise, this film remains the true original great granddaddy of black and white road movies. The Road movie is an American invention, but Wim Wenders successfully transplanted in Germany, and he would eventually return the Road Movie to America with his other masterwork, Paris, Texas.
I remember I wanted to see this film so badly that I even bought the German DVD without any English subtitles just so I could see it. Not that there’s much dialogue. Now that I’ve seen it with English Subtitles (thanks, Axiom Films), I have come to appreciate this film even more. This probably the only European Art Film I can think of that contains a hilarious scene of defecation and is worth recommending. If you’ve seen road movies before, prepare to see things anew with this film; if you’re new to road movies, this is an amazing place to start. It’s a pleasure to watch.

Also worth seeing (films that this film has influenced): Jim Jarmusch’s aforementioned Stranger Than Paradise, Aki Kaurismaki’s deadpan hilarious Take Care of Your Scarf, Tatiana, and Benoit Delpine & Gustave Kervern’s equally deadpan hilarious Aaltra (complete with a cameo by Aki Kaurismaki) and Shinji Aoyoma’s 4 Hour dramedy journey, Eureka.