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Wings of Desire streaming

Original title: Der Himmel über Berlin
1987 Movie France, Germany Drama, Romance, Fantasy 129 min 6
By: Wim Wenders With: Rolf Henke, Dieta von Aster, Otto Kuhnle, Gerdi Hofmann, Bruno Ganz

Visible only to those like them and to human children, Damiel and Cassiel are two angels, who have existed even before humankind. Along with several other angels, they currently wander around West Berlin, generally on their own, observing and preserving life, sometimes trying to provide comfort to the troubled, although those efforts are not always successful. Among those they are currently observing are: the cast and crew of a movie - a detective story set in WWII Nazi Germany - which include a sensitive and perceptive Peter Falk; an elderly man named Homer looking for eternal peace; and the troupe of a financially failing circus, which has closed early for the season because of those financial problems. One day, Damiel tells Cassiel that he wants to become human, to feel not only the sensory aspects of physical beings, but also emotional aspects. He embarks on this thought with the full realization that there is no turning back if he decides to do so. His thoughts are largely because he has fallen in love with Marion, the trapeze artist with the circus. If he does decide to become a human, there is no guarantee that as a human that he will be able to locate Marion or that she will return his affection. His angels, however, may be looking out for him.

Filmium rating
79%

Festival Achievements

Berlin International Film Festival 2018
Selections:
Berlinale Classics 2018
Berlin International Film Festival 2015
Selections:
Homage 2015
European Film Awards 1988
Awards:
European Director • Best Supporting Actor
Nominations:
Special Aspect Award • European Film
Festival de Cannes 1987
Awards:
In Competition - Feature films

Mood

Fantastical
Melancholic
Poetic
Poignant
Reflective
Romantic

Cast & Crew

Wim Wenders
Peter Handke
Richard Reitinger
Mascha Noak
Nicolas Roth
Lorenz Geisler
Silvia Blagojeva Itscherenska
Rowland S. Howard
Bernard Eisenschitz
Johanna Penski
Peter Falk
Käthe Fürstenwerth
Donald Behrendt
Mark Leuschner
Werner Schönrock
Curt Bois
Slađana Kostić
Teresa Harder
Henry Luczkow
Jürgen Heinrich
Hans Martin Stier
Patric Kreuzer
Hans Marquardt
Vera Butzek
Mario Meyer
Lajos Kovács
Paul Geisler
Annelinde Gerstl
Ulrike Schirm
Roland Wolf
Erika Rabau
Margitta Haberland
Oliver Herder
Simone Säger
Bruno Rosaz
Wolf-Dirk Vogeley
Beatrice Manowski
Simon Bonney
Irene Moessinger
Kid Congo Powers
Peter Werner
Lina Otto
Harry Howard
Bernd Ramien
Gustav Geisler
Benjamin Ferchow
Özyer Hüsinye
Heimke Karl
Tibor Dahlenburg
Bruno Ganz
Charlotte Oberberg
David Crome
Paul Busch
Jerry Barrish
Lubinka Kostic
Klaus Mausolf
Jochen Gliscinsky
Sigurd Rachman
Daniela Nasimcova
Marcus Stenzel
Mick Harvey
Didier Flamand
Walter Ratayszak
Christian Bartels
Rolf Henke
Gerdi Hofmann
Gisela Westerboer
Andreas Valentin
Olivier Picot
Thomas Wydler
Denis Rodriguez
Margarete Hafner
Chick Ortega
Ruth Rischke
Jeanette Pollak
Otto Sander
Benedikt Schumann
Elmar Wilms
Franky
Thierry Noir
Blixa Bargeld
Karin Busch
Nick Cave
Lia Harder
Sultan Meral
Solveig Dommartin
Jean-Claude Lezin
Erich Schupke
Dieta von Aster
Otto Kuhnle

Budget

Art Film
Independent

Cinematic Technique

Angel Perspective
Black-And-White
Color Contrast
Intimate Framing
Monochrome
Sepia-Toned

Narrative Structure

Nonlinear
Poetic Narration
Visual Storytelling

Pace

Languorous
Meditative
Slow-Paced

Soundtrack

Artistic Score
Choir
Circus Music
Musical Score
Nick Cave
Rock Music

Style

Artistic
Cinematic
Poetic
Symbolic

Time-Period

1980S
Cold War Berlin
Pre-Reunification Berlin

Central Conflict

Angel'S Desire For Mortality
Angel'S Desire To Become Human
Loneliness
Love
Search For Human Experience
Search For Love

Characters

Angel
Angel Of The Watcher
Damiel
Homer
Marion
Peter Falk

Ending

Damiel Becomes Human
Damiel'S Mortal Life
Hope For Reunion
Love
New Beginning
Open-Ended

Historical Context

Berlin Divided By Wall
Berlin Wall
Cold War
Cold War Era
Divided Berlin

Key Plot Points

Damiel Becomes Mortal
Damiel Meets Marion
Damiel'S Transformation
Falk'S Human Experience
Falk'S Renunciation Of Angelhood
Meeting Marion

Plot

Angel Falls In Love
Angel To Human Transformation
Angels Observing Berlin
Berlin Wall Backdrop
Existential
Fantasy
Love Story
Romantic

Setting

1980S
Berlin
Berlin Wall
Divided City
Potsdamer Square
West Berlin

Shooting Location

Actual Locations
Berlin Landmarks
West Berlin
West Berlin Locations

Theme

Existentialism
Isolation
Love
Love And Mortality
Spiritual Longing
Spirituality
Urban Isolation

Genre

Art House
Drama
Fantasy
Romantic
Romantic Fantasy

Audiences

Adults
Art Film
Art Film Enthusiasts
Film Enthusiasts
Philosophical Viewers
Romance Lovers

Titles

As Asas do Desejo
Berliinin taivaan alla
Cerul deasupra Berlinului
Der Himmel über Berlin
El cielo sobre Berlín
Heaven Over Berlin
Himmelen over Berlin
Il cielo sopra Berlino
Las alas del deseo
Les ailes du désir
The Sky Over Berlin
Wings of Desire
Wings Of Heaven
Τα Φτερά του Έρωτα
Небо над Берлином
ベルリン・天使の詩
柏林蒼穹下
베를린 천사의 시

Awards

Best Director Cannes
European Film Awards

Box Office Success

Financial Success
Popular Art Film

Critical Reception

Critically Acclaimed
High Praise
Lyrical
Top Films Of The 1980S
Visual Poetry

Festivals

Cannes Film Festival

Ratings

98% Rotten Tomatoes

Reception

Award-Winning
Awards
Critical Acclaim
Critically Acclaimed
Cult Classic
Festival Success
Film Festivals

Production Countries

France
Germany

Release Year

1987
mowizz ID: 475e159b-89da-4e36-acfe-14f4618fd422
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