German director Wim Wenders' enters the world of dreams and the fear of death in his latest film, Palermo Shooting, which screened at the Cannes Film Festival Saturday, reported dpa.
Set in both Dusseldorf and Palermo, the film traces the journey of a successful photographer Fin, played by German rock star Campino, from the German city to Italy.
"It is the classic journey for Germans: The journey to Italy," Wenders said at a press conference marking the film's premiere in Cannes.
In Palermo Shooting, which is one of 22 films competing in the race of the festival's top honours, Fin travels to Palermo for a fashion shoot only to find himself falling in love with the Italian city but haunted by fears of death.
The film also stars Dennis Hopper as Death with the veteran American actor having played a string of roles as Hollywood villains.
In Palermo, Fin meets Flavia, an art restorer, played by Italian actress Giovanna Mezzogiorno.
"What is interesting about Flavia is that she understands Fin and she believes the things that he says that are to do with death," said Mezzogiorno at the press conference with Fin's fears about death emerging in the film when he is sleeping during his dreams.
"If you have knowledge of death in your life then you can easily understand people that are facing those sorts of fears," said Mezzogiorno.
Palermo, said Wenders has a strange relation to death, including a major annual festival, adding that when you "start to explore subjects about death you want to talk about life and beauty."
Wender's film also included a strong soundtrack with the director saying music often touched on subjects like death and had been a major inspiration for the movie.
Palermo Shooting includes a cameo role by veteran rock star Lou Reed, who Wenders described as the greatest living poet in the rock world.
"Rock 'n' roll does things that film dares not to do," said Wenders.