This is an original Japanese B2 theatrical poster for Wim Wenders’ iconic 1977 neo-noir thriller Der amerikanische Freund (released in Japan as アメリカの友人, known internationally as The American Friend). A vivid, high-impact Japanese design, it balances an atmospheric, cinematic night-time still across the top with a bold red lower panel, oversized Japanese title typography, and inset film stills—creating a dramatic “collage” layout that perfectly matches the film’s tense, fatalistic mood. The Japanese tagline across the top emphasizes the story’s dangerous friendship and “perfect crime” suspense, while the lower text highlights Wenders (noted here as the director of 「パリ、テキサス」 / Paris, Texas) and the source author Patricia Highsmith (noted for 「太陽がいっぱい」).
What truly elevates this example into a major collector’s piece is the large, clear handwritten signature of Wim Wenders, boldly placed across the left side of the main image (as pictured). Even more notably, this poster was signed by Wenders in Japan (Kyoto) over three decades ago, giving the autograph exceptional provenance and making it a particularly meaningful artifact for serious Wim Wenders collectors—especially given his long, deep creative connection with Japan.
Key Features:
Original Japanese B2 poster for Der amerikanische Freund / アメリカの友人 (1977) — not a reproduction or reprint.
Hand-signed by Wim Wenders in bold black marker across the main image (see close-up photo).
Distinctive Japanese theatrical design: moody urban stills, dramatic noir palette, oversized Japanese title text, and inset imagery—plus Japanese copy calling out Wenders (as director of Paris, Texas) and Patricia Highsmith as the original author.
Exceptional provenance: signed in Kyoto, Japan over 30 years ago, tying the autograph directly to Wenders’ real-world presence and history in Japan.
Rare subject + rare signature combination: Japanese B2 posters for classic European arthouse thrillers are highly collectible, and signed Japanese examples are particularly uncommon, making this a standout Wenders collectible.
Excellent overall condition for display, with light edge/handling wear and minor age-related rippling/handling impressions visible (please see photos of both front and reverse for exact condition).
About the Film:
Directed by Wim Wenders, Der amerikanische Freund (The American Friend) is a landmark of 1970s European cinema—an unsettling, stylish neo-noir that blends American crime mythologies with a distinctly European sense of alienation and dread. Adapted from a Patricia Highsmith Tom Ripley story, the film follows a seemingly ordinary man pulled into a lethal criminal scheme through a relationship that is equal parts friendship, manipulation, and fate. With its cool-toned atmosphere, hypnotic pacing, and unforgettable sense of urban unease, it’s widely regarded as one of Wenders’ most essential films—an enduring classic that bridges arthouse introspection and thriller mechanics with rare confidence.
About Wim Wenders & Japan:
Wim Wenders’ creative relationship with Japan is long-standing, deeply personal, and clearly visible across his work. His celebrated documentary Tokyo-Ga (東京画) is a direct cinematic love letter to Japan—an essayistic journey through Tokyo that reflects on modern life, memory, and the lingering spirit of Japanese cinema. Decades later, Wenders returned to Tokyo for Perfect Days, a film that again engages with Japan through quiet observation, everyday ritual, and a profound sensitivity to place. In that context, an original Japanese poster signed by Wenders in Japan—especially in Kyoto, over three decades ago—becomes far more than a standard autograph: it is a tangible piece of the director’s ongoing dialogue with Japan, and a rare, provenance-rich artifact that resonates with the exact themes (time, place, looking, remembering) that define his career.
This poster is in excellent display condition. Please refer to the imagery (both front and back) as this is the exact poster that is for sale.
It is not a reproduction or a reprint.
Certificate of Authenticity included.
