Lightning over Water

film by Wenders and Ray [1980]

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July 22, 2026

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"Lightning over Water" is a 1980 documentary film co-directed by Wim Wenders and Nicholas Ray. The film chronicles the final months of Nicholas Ray's life as he battled cancer. It offers an intimate and poignant look at the acclaimed filmmaker's struggles and reflections during his last days. Wenders, who had previously worked with Ray on "The American Friend," collaborated with him on this personal project, capturing Ray's experiences and thoughts. The film serves as a moving testament to Ray's life and legacy in cinema.12

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Nicholas Ray
Later films
…cancer, Ray appeared in Wenders’s Lightning over Water (1980), a moving record of his last months. For periods in his life Ray wore a signature patch over one eye, though it may have been a fashion statement rather than a necessity; accounts of its origin vary. There is little doubt,…
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…cancer, Ray appeared in Wenders’s Lightning over Water (1980), a moving record of his last months. For periods in his life Ray wore a signature patch over one eye, though it may have been a fashion statement rather than a necessity; accounts of its origin vary. There is little doubt,…
Read More