Travis Henderson (Harry Dean Stanton) walks out of the desert after four years, to the amazement of his brother, Walt (Dean Stockwell). Reunited with Hunter, his seven-year-old son, Travis decides that they should search for his ex-wife (Nastassja Kinski) so that they can be a family once again. The great character actor Stanton took his first leading role in Wim Wenders’ moving slice of Americana.
Beautifully shot by Robbie Müller, Sam Shepard’s beguilingly simple story is stunningly realised by Wenders, whose stark imagery is accompanied by Ry Cooder’s acclaimed score.