The American Friend is a 1977 film directed by Wim Wenders, based on the novel Ripley's Game by Patricia Highsmith. The story follows Tom Ripley (played by Dennis Hopper), a forger who lives in Berlin and is struggling to make ends meet.
One day, Ripley is introduced to a picture framer named Jonathan Zimmermann (played by Bruno Ganz) who is suffering from a terminal illness. Ripley convinces Zimmermann to become a hit man and carry out a murder for him in exchange for money to secure his family's future.
Zimmermann initially balks at the idea but eventually agrees to take the job. As he prepares for the hit, he becomes increasingly paranoid and begins to fear for his safety.
Meanwhile, an American art dealer named Derwatt (played by Nicholas Ray) is being blackmailed by an unknown person who has discovered that his art is forged. Ripley convinces Derwatt to take a new identity and disappear, but things quickly spiral out of control as the hit on the blackmailer goes awry.
The film is known for its moody and atmospheric style, as well as the exceptional performances by the leads. It is widely regarded as one of Wenders' masterpieces and a classic of the neo-noir genre.