Paris, Texas (1984)

I'm someone who's grown up in a mostly broken up and distorted family, the themes in this film connected with me. Paris, Texas tells the story of a man trying to piece together the jigsaw puzzle of a life he left behind. This film has very distinct acts in which the main character Travis rebuilds a relationship with a family member from his past. Themes of belonging and fatherhood play essentially into Travis' struggle to reintegrate into society. The cinematography is beautiful from the scenic western American desert the film starts in, to the congested L.A. streets and grimy peep shows. The performances are outstanding, making every heartbreaking moment even sharper. There is a beautiful guitar score that accompanies a film that wears its heart on its sleeve perfectly. The only apprehension I have when recommending the film is its length. I believe it's packed perfectly over it's two and a half hour runtime, but some may disagree. I would recommend Paris, Texas, to anyone who finds interest in the themes I've talked about, or wants to explore something a little more "artsy" that remains reasonably commercial.