Road Movie trilogy by Wim Wenders

German journalist Philip Winter has a case of writer's block when trying to write an article about the United States. He decides to return to Germany, and while trying to book a flight, encounters a German woman and her nine year old daughter Alice doing the same. The three become friends (almost out of necessity) and while the mother asks Winter to mind Alice temporarily, it quickly becomes apparent that Alice will be his responsibility for longer than he expected. After returning to Europe, the innocent friendship between Winter and Alice grows as they travel together through various European cities on a quest for Alice's grandmother.

In search of inspiration, the hopeful author, Wilhelm, sets out on a lonely journey of enlightenment with his encouraging mother's blessing, leaving behind him his hometown of Glückstadt. In high hopes of finding something to write, Wilhelm wanders about unknown and faceless towns; however, he is not alone. A weary old father and his silent teenage daughter; a well-known actress, and an Austrian wannabe poet become Wilhelm's companions in his never-ending quest to broaden his horizons; nevertheless, the fear of making one wrong move, and an inadvertent mistake seem to stand in the way of discovering his identity. Will Wilhelm find the truth and the miracle he seeks in the snow-capped summit of the Zugspitze?

Near the Eastern borders with West Germany, Bruno, a solitary, permanent citizen of the road and film projection equipment repairman, witnesses the sad sight of a VW beetle car storming straight into the River Elbe. After a while, however, the depressed driver, Robert, instinctively accepts an offer for a lift in Bruno's repair van, and just like that, an impromptu relationship begins. Now, against the backdrop of the German countryside, the new companions find themselves sharing the same need for freedom, visiting dilapidated movie theatres for maintenance, and getting to know each other one small town after another. But, no one knows, or cares, how long is the road that stretches out ahead of them. After all, the only thing that matters is one's commitment to a precious ideal. Have the kings of the road found life's true meaning?