How many films have you seen that can leave you wondering and asking for more?
Der Himmel über Berlin (The Sky Above Berlin) or Wings of Desire is a haunting philosophical film that reveals all hidden emotions that a human being can feel.
The story is set in Berlin near the end of the cold war, two angels who have been observers since the dawn of time travel from one place to another listening to different thoughts, feelings and emotions of humans. Each perspective change as the angels Damiel (Bruno Ganz) and Cassiel (Otto Sander) observe different people, with the haunting backdrop of Berlin. German director Wim Wenders was also able to internalize and meditate about what happened to Germany during the war years which continues to haunt the city and it's inhabitants.
The cinematography and the atmosphere also helps create a sense of loneliness and introspection as different characters weigh in on the different situations in their lives.
The angels are most of the time just spectators with each scene shot in bronze like color, but are forced to interact with their human counterparts due to curiosity and a sense of longing to be a part of a world they have observed for so long.
The angel Damiel falls for a trapeze artist Marion (Solveig Dommartin) and relinquishes his immortality to be with the woman he has fallen for, he then enters the world now in full color and experiences the feeling of being human after getting hurt and even tasting his own blood. He sells his old armor and buys new clothes to fit into into this new world, he finally meets Hollywood actor Peter Falk playing himself who amusingly reveals that he was a former angel himself explaining his role in this sometimes surreal film.
Marion the trapeze artist longs for love and success but this eludes her until she finally meets Damiel, the scene where she watches as the circus troop leaves sitting on her luggage on an empty lot is an obvious homage to Charlie Chaplin's film "The Circus" evoking a sense of need and loneliness.
This is the one of the film of Wenders that I have seen so far and the other is "Paris, Texas", both films evoke a sense of calm and uneasiness that draws you in to find sense on things and evokes emotions that are difficult to deal with. I would say that a film like this requires a sense of open mindedness, you just have to go along for the ride and let it take you away from your own life even if just for a mere 2 hours.
Grade: A
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