"He'll never bring The Beatles back to Hamburg"
Loosely based on the novel Ripley’s Game and made by German Director Wim Wenders under the
title Der amerikanische Freund the
film stars Bruno Ganz (Downfall, Unknown)
as Jonathan, a picture framer with a terminal blood disease. Jonathan meets a
wealthy American Tom Ripley (Dennis Hopper) who deals in art forgery. Jonathan,
knowing what Tom does wants nothing to do with the American and initially
refuses to shake his hand. Later, Tom is approached by a French criminal named
Raoul (Gerard Blain) who asks Tom if he is willing to commit a murder against a
rival gangster. Tom refuses but suggests Jonathan as he has no connections and
may be willing to do the job for money so that he has something to leave his
wife (Lisa Kreuzer - Kings of the Road) and young son after his imminent death. Jonathan
reluctantly agrees after being manipulated by the criminals but his actions set
him and Tom on a path towards destruction. 