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Wings of Desire (1987, West Germany/France) Psychological significance: **** [out of ****]
[aka The Sky Above
Berlin]
Cinematic Value: **** [out of ****]
Directed
by Wim
Wenders.
After working in USA and after winning the Golden
Palm in 1984. with Paris, Texas Wenders decided to make a movie in his
native Germany. Result was more than a brilliant work of Art, very unique
and highly poetic modern masterpiece – Wings of Desire (original title
is Der Himmel über Berlin).
It is following two angels –Damiel (brilliantly
played by Bruno Ganz) and Cassiel (Otto Sander) wandering through the
streets of modern day Berlin and helping its citizens. One day Damiel,
aware of his detachment from the material world and in love with a
mortal girl, decides to sacrifice his
immortality.
This film is a testimony to the
little things we (humans) take for granted like a touch of a close
friend or having a cup of coffee in a cold day. It explores various
forms of divisions (isolation, alienation) in a modern society
(Heaven-Earth, Man-Woman, East Germany-West Germany; Berlin Wall was
still on in 1987).
Beauty of Wenders’ visual poetry is beyond
explanation. Very few films have this possibility to take the viewer
into hypnosis thanks to the skillful mixture of striking
cinematography, evocative sounds and deliberate pace. This film is
capable to produce the unique felling you won’t soon forget. It has my
vote for the best cinematography ever in motion pictures (by then
78-year-old Henri Alekan!)
Overall, Wings of Desire is a movie like no
other – lyrical, haunting, poetic. It’s a beautiful and moving journey
into the spiritual, emotional and political dualism. Most important
of all, it reminds us how valuable is to be a human.
Remade in
USA in 1998 as City of Angels. Sequel: Faraway, So Close!
Wings of Desire from the Rotten Tomatoes International Movie Database All Movie Guide
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