Lightning Over Water (1980)

Wim Wenders: Self

Photos 

Quotes 

• Wim Wenders : I didn't come here to talk about dying Nic... but we might have to.

  Nicholas Ray : But we might have to?

  Wim Wenders : I was looking forward to seeing you, because I need your advice. You told me on the phone that you wanted to see me, but I was afraid to come too. And I think I'd rather tell you right now; why. I was aware that I'd see you in weakness, and... that... you might be worried about being seen this way. But I feel it's okay now. There is something else that came to my mind in the plane last night, that I'm actually more afraid of. I thought that I could find myself being attracted to your weakness, or to your suffering, and... if I realized I was, I think I would have to leave you. It would feel like abusing you... or betraying you.

  Nicholas Ray : That won't happen.

  Wim Wenders : Good! So what are our plans for the rest of the day?

• Wim Wenders : [reading from Nicholas Ray's diary]  'I looked into my face and what did I see? No grenache rock of identity - faded blue. Drawn skin and wrinkled lips and sadness. And the wildest urge to recognize and accept the face of my mother... ' Nick. Nick. Oh, Nick.

• Nicholas Ray : The film is about... a man who wants to bring himself all together before he dies. A regaining of self esteem. A once, very highly successful man.

  Wim Wenders : [narrating]  I was getting very confused. Something was happening. Each time the camera was pointed at Nic - something that I had no control of. It was in the camera itself. It was looking at Nic through the viewfinder. Like a very precise instrument, the camera showed clearly and mercilessly... that his time was running out. No, you couldn't really see it with your bare eyes. There was always hope... but not in the camera. I didn't know how to take it. I was terrified.