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Lightning Over Water

Play trailer Poster for Lightning Over Water 1981,  1h 56m,  Documentary Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist 63% 8 Reviews Tomatometer 70% 500+ Ratings Popcornmeter
63% Tomatometer 8 Reviews 70% Popcornmeter 500+ Ratings
The last months in the life of Nicholas Ray as seen by fellow filmmaker Wim Wenders and various friends and family.

Critics Reviews

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Vincent Canby New York Times Oct 20, 2004
2/5
Lightning Over Water is chaotic, emotionally and esthetically. Go to Full Review
Dylan Adamson Screen Slate Aug 24, 2026
It’s understandable that Wenders would want to pay his friend this last tribute; it’s also telling that he could only do it once Ray had departed the frame. Go to Full Review
Jesús Fernández Santos El Pais (Spain) Aug 15, 2019
Nicholas Ray tackles the subject of death with the objectivity of those who confront it, without losing courage when everything is lost. [Full Review in Spanish] Go to Full Review
Dennis Schwartz Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews Apr 3, 2013
A-
It's a fitting heartfelt tribute to Ray. Go to Full Review
David Nusair Reel Film Reviews Dec 21, 2006
0/4
Unquestionably the worst movie of Wim Wenders' career and indeed one of the worst movies ever made... Go to Full Review
Jeffrey M. Anderson Combustible Celluloid May 26, 2006
3/4
Wenders adds in some cruddy early-80s video from time to time, and the film is an odd mixture of powerful emotions and rambling nothingness. Go to Full Review
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Lightning Over Water

My Rating

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Cast & Crew

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Wim Wenders

Director

Nicholas Ray

Director

Nicholas Ray

Self

Wim Wenders

Self

Susan Ray

Self

Chris Sievernich

Self

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Lightning Over Water

Lightning Over Water (1980) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis The last months in the life of Nicholas Ray as seen by fellow filmmaker Wim Wenders and various friends and family.
Director
Wim Wenders, Nicholas Ray
Production Co
Viking Film, Road Movies Filmproduktion [de], Wim Wenders Productions
Genre
Documentary
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Oct 27, 1981, Limited
Release Date (DVD)
Jan 7, 2003
Runtime
1h 56m
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