Wim Wenders, the director, was sitting by himself at a huge mahogany table located one floor above a cinema in Delhi, where his latest documentary, Anselm, was being screened. The film focuses on German artist Anselm Kiefer, who uses his art to remind us of the dangers of forgetting history, particularly the rise of fascism. Speaking softly in somewhat hesitant English, the renowned German filmmaker seemed at ease during the final stretch of his extensive tour in India. He talked about the upcoming elections in Germany on February 23, the growing political rift between Europe and the US regarding the Russia-Ukraine conflict, and the issues of disinformation and the difference between story selling and genuine storytelling.

Known for classics like Paris, Texas (1984), Wings of Desire (1987), and Buena Vista Social Club (1999), as well as his latest film, Perfect Days, Wenders shared that he brought his camera along on his first trip to India. He even tried his hand at some photography in Kerala and plans to capture more moments in Rajasthan before heading back home early next month. Here are some highlights from the interview:

How has your first trip to India been as it wraps up after starting on February 5?

I've always dreamed of visiting India, but I knew a week just wouldn't cut it. If I was going to go, it had to be for at least a month. So here I am, planning for February 2025. Just two weeks left, and honestly, it still feels too brief. I've got my big camera ready, and I can't wait to explore Rajasthan since I really enjoy discovering new places. We’ll have ten days to ourselves now that I've shared my films and had some great conversations, which I really enjoy. I didn’t snap too many photos, but I did manage to spend a little time in Kerala.

Germany is heading to the polls this Sunday for a crucial election. Are you planning to cast your vote?

I cast my vote today! I headed over to the German embassy in New Delhi. They’ve got someone on a flight right now with a suitcase packed full of votes from German citizens living in India. It’s set to land in Berlin tomorrow. Once it gets there, everything will go straight to the post office, and it’ll all make it on time. So, all my worries about not being able to make my vote count have totally disappeared!

The elections are taking place while European leaders are feeling anxious and wary about Vladimir Putin from Russia and what's going on across the Atlantic...

Honestly, we're more worried about what's happening on the other side of the Atlantic. Right now, it's Donald Trump's strange take on history that has us feeling uneasy, rather than Putin's actions. At least with Putin, we have a clear understanding of his motives. With Trump, it's a whole different story—he thrives on creating chaos and fear, and that’s pretty unsettling.

Is the recent split between Europe and the US regarding the Russia-Ukraine conflict more about ideas, society, and culture rather than just geopolitics?

There's been a noticeable cultural split that’s really emerged over the past few years. Even within the U.S., you can see a divide between folks who are clueless about history and those who lack basic decency. It’s honestly pretty frightening to be in America right now. I was in New York before moving to India, and it feels like the country is almost schizophrenic. There are two completely different Americas, and they don’t communicate at all. Each side struggles to understand the other. The current power structure, especially with Trump, seems completely disconnected from any sense of culture. To me, culture starts with understanding history, and without that, you’ve got nothing. I doubt Trump has ever picked up a book; he once mentioned that just seeing a book makes him bored. His knowledge seems to come solely from TV, particularly Fox News. That’s a huge issue we’re facing—the absence of a real cultural foundation.

In your documentary, Anselm, you explore the dangers of ignoring history through the work of German artist Anselm Kiefer, emphasizing the risks of forgetting fascism. This message is globally relevant, isn't it?

It's a global issue we're seeing everywhere. Germany is one of those countries with a ton of borders. Honestly, I can't think of another country that has as many. Right now, about half of our borders are with nations that have far-right governments. Germany has learned from its past and has put up strong defenses, trying to reconcile with its history. But there's still a looming threat from a far-right, fascist party, which is getting support from Russian propaganda.

There's a lot of misinformation swirling around in Germany these days. One of the big falsehoods making the rounds on social media, pushed by the far-right, is this bizarre claim that Hitler was a communist. It's a completely unfounded theory with no basis in history. They’re trying to convince people that the real villains are Socialists and Communists, and they even go as far as saying, "Oh, by the way, Hitler was a Communist." It’s alarming how little historical knowledge there is, even in Germany right now. And it’s not just here; in America, there’s this conspiracy theory floating around that Hitler's party was socialist. The truth is, it was called the National Socialist party, and the Socialists were actually Hitler's biggest foes. It feels like they’re just trying to tear down any sense of decency.

Elon Musk, a billionaire entrepreneur influential in the Trump administration, recently live-streamed a chat with the leader of Germany's far-right party before the elections.

Last week, when the new Vice-President of the U.S., JD Vance, visited Germany for the Munich security conference, he didn’t bother to meet with our Chancellor. Instead, he chose to hang out with the far-right, specifically meeting with Alice Weidel, the co-chair of the Alternative for Germany party. He publicly criticized German parties like the center-right and the liberals, claiming they lack democratic decency for refusing to work with neo-fascists. Vance came to Germany to lecture us about how this refusal was anti-democratic and suggested that the rise of the far-right was a sign we needed a refresher on what democracy really means. It all feels like a twisted joke. It’s straight out of Goebbels' playbook: tell so many lies that people can’t tell what’s real anymore.

In your latest movie, Perfect Days, does the main character Hirayama, a public toilet cleaner and avid reader, reflect today's doubts about the future and raising children?

A lot of folks are pretty skeptical these days. It seems like everyone is so wrapped up in their digital gadgets that they end up controlling our lives instead of actually helping us out. It’s like we all have our own little dictators in our pockets, except for Hirayama, who’s living life on his own terms. Maybe that’s why so many young people are drawn to him; they crave a simpler existence, free from the constant need to check their phones and keep up with a million online friends. But what about their real friendships? It feels like they’ve lost touch with those.

This disconnect from reality is honestly pretty alarming. So many people are stuck in this artificial bubble, relying solely on digital info. For them, the world is just a stream of data. They’ve forgotten what real stories are because they’re so caught up in the idea of story selling that storytelling itself doesn’t resonate with them anymore. It’s like they’ve lost that connection.

A photography exhibition showcasing your stunning Australian landscapes was held at the Goethe Institute in Delhi over twenty years ago. While traveling through India, have you captured any photos or discovered any stories that could inspire a photography or film project, similar to your Perfect Days in Japan?

It's definitely possible! After spending a couple of days in Delhi, we'll be hitting the road solo. No interviews or movie screenings to worry about—just traveling, snapping some photos, and hopefully figuring out what brought me to India in the first place.

In 2023, you released a documentary, Anselm, and a feature film, Perfect Days. Amid the refugee crisis, climate disasters, and wars, what does art mean to you?

Art has a bigger responsibility than ever to uphold the truth. With truth being so rare these days, I believe the most important role of art right now is to stay true to reality. It’s crucial to remind people that truth exists and that there are undeniable facts out there. History is packed with facts, and the climate crisis is one of them. Mr. Trump enjoys his Coke with a straw and has recently claimed that we should lift the ban on plastic straws, calling them a symbol of civilization. It’s clear that some people just don’t get it. If you’re clueless, you can act as foolish as you want. But if you actually know the truth, then people shouldn’t be allowed to stay ignorant.

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