film

This experimental documentary from 1980, co-directed by a young-ish Wim Wenders and the legendary Nicholas Ray, the man behind Rebel Without A Cause, is a deeply personal and emotional documentary that captures the final days of Ray's life as he succumbs to terminal cancer. Documentary realism and fictional elements are blended in place of a conventional narrative, creating a powerful meditation on life, art, and death.

Set primarily in Ray’s New York apartment, Lightning Over Water takes in candid conversations, reflections on filmmaking and moments of deep vulnerability. Wenders' role is as director but also as a friend and admirer, and he grapples with his role in documenting Ray’s decline. A fascinating and heartfelt homage to a master.