An American Rebirth in Paris, Texas
*This is more of an analysis than a review and contains spoilers*
Paris, Texas is not a place. It is the genesis. Travis has an inexplicable desire to buy a plot of land in the city because he believes it is where he was conceived. The urge to have such a tangible connection to this moment in one’s origin seems strange at first but as the story progresses it falls carefully into a theme of rebirth that resonates throughout the film.
When the screen first fades in and Travis walks out of the desert, mute, and unaware of his own existence, it feels almost childlike; as if he was just birthed from the womb of the American heartland. Wenders stated that he simply desired “to tell a story about America” and as such it makes sense that a very typical American man would emerge from such a recognizable part of the American landscape, especially through the eye of an unfamiliar German director. He exits the desert and slowly begins to regain memory and speech, again without much explanation. This too is like a newborn baby; slowly learning basic words and motor functions without much explanation either.
When Travis eventually finds his wife, Jane, he recounts their abusive relationship. How he distrusted her and kept her captive. How she escaped by setting him on fire. And how he wandered off into the desert after experiencing such trauma, thus starting the events of the film. This trauma made him wake up to his egregiousness. He was injured and hysterical and chose to literally rebirth himself to become a better man. Now the plot of land makes more sense. He wanted to have control of his conception by taking it away from his also abusive father and bring himself back to life in the nearby desert.
When he does eventually find Jane he realizes that even as a new man he does not deserve her love or that of his son; fearing he may revert back to his old ways if given the opportunity. So he does what he believes to be necessary. Reuniting mother and son and returning back to the desert and an uncertain fate.
