I’ve seen this movie perhaps five times. The first time was on the Bravo channel way back in 1985 or 86. It changed my young life. I was blown away by the mood, the photography, the music. I began watching more European films after that. It was an awakening.

A few years later I saw it on the big screen. It was way better. I then saw it on VHS once or twice after that just to keep it fresh in my mind. Those vast Texan landscapes just killed me. The color of each image captivated me. By this time I was hooked.

And then last week I watched it again after about a 15 year hiatus. It was different this time. Those landscapes are still amazing and the photography is still gorgeous (even on TV), but this time it was the story that got to me. It’s a story (written by Sam Shepard) that can positively devastate you. Anyone with a little life experience under the belt will feel it. It’s beautifully heartbreaking in every detail.