This is an original Japanese B2 theatrical poster for Wim Wenders’ beloved 1974 road-movie Alice in the Cities (German title: Alice in den Städten, released in Japan as 都会のアリス). A beautifully composed and highly collectible Japanese design, it pairs a large, elegant red Japanese title at the top with a stark black-and-white central still—capturing the film’s intimate, drifting mood—then layers in additional imagery below, including the iconic walking cityscape and a “Polaroid-style” inset photograph that nods directly to the film’s themes of photography, memory, and searching.
What truly elevates this example into a major collector’s piece is the large, clear handwritten signature of Wim Wenders, boldly placed across the Polaroid-style inset area. Even more desirably, it is personally inscribed “Kyoto 17.3.92” (as pictured), giving the autograph a specific place and date—something far less common than a simple signature and a major provenance detail for serious Wenders collectors. This was signed by Wenders in Japan over three decades ago in Kyoto, making it an exceptional Japan-linked artifact.
Key Features:
Original Japanese B2 poster for Alice in the Cities / 都会のアリス (Alice in den Städten) (1974) — not a reproduction or reprint.
Hand-signed by Wim Wenders, with a highly desirable location/date inscription “Kyoto 17.3.92” clearly visible on the front (see close-up photo).
Striking Japanese design: oversized red title typography, crisp monochrome photography, and layered inset images (including the Polaroid-style photo) that perfectly echo the film’s themes of travel, photographs, and memory.
Design credit visible: DESIGN: M. OGASAWARA (printed at the lower-left edge).
Rare title + rare signature combination: signed Japanese B2 posters for Wenders are scarce, and Kyoto-dated signed examples are particularly uncommon—making this a standout Wim Wenders collectible.
Excellent overall condition for display, with light edge/handling wear and minor age/handling impressions visible on the reverse (please see photos for exact condition).
About the Film:
Directed by Wim Wenders, Alice in the Cities is one of the most cherished works of his early career and is widely viewed as a cornerstone of his road-movie sensibility (often discussed as the opening chapter of his essential “road” period). The film follows a drifting adult protagonist whose aimless travel and creative uncertainty are transformed when he unexpectedly finds himself responsible for a young girl—leading to a journey shaped by chance encounters, quiet observation, and the emotional pull of places half-remembered. With its poetic black-and-white imagery and gentle, human-scale storytelling, the film has become a defining Wenders classic: a road movie where the real destination is attention, connection, and the act of looking.
About Wim Wenders & Japan:
Wim Wenders’ close relationship with Japan is one of the most meaningful cross-cultural threads in his career. His documentary Tokyo-Ga is a landmark cinematic love letter to Japan—an essay on Tokyo, memory, and the spirit of Japanese cinema—while his recent film Perfect Days returns to Tokyo with an intimate devotion to everyday ritual and observation. In that context, this original Japanese movie poster signed by Wim Wenders in Japan—specifically inscribed “Kyoto 17.3.92”—becomes even more special: a provenance-rich object that directly reflects Wenders’ lived connection with Japan, and a rare artifact for serious collectors focused on that part of his legacy.
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.
