'' Lightning Over Water '' , also known as '' Nick 's Film '' , is a 1980 West German-Swedish documentary-drama film written , directed by and starring Wim Wenders and Nicholas Ray . It centers on the last days of Ray 's own life , who was already known worlwide for his 1955 classic film '' Rebel Without a Cause '' . It was screened out of competition at the 1980 Cannes Film Festival
1980 Cannes Film Festival
1980 Cannes Film Festival
Lightning Over Water