“Wings of Desire” is a 1987 movie about angels in Berlin, that examines the themes of hope, humanity, and ever-concurring love. It follows an angel who falls in love with a woman and tries to become human himself to be with her. Despite the seemingly melodramatic premise, the movie deals with several heavy subjects, as the angel in the story is all too familiar with the existential solitude of an eternal being. Although the leitmotif of the movie heavily focuses on love and hope, it is a sad piece that dwells on the internal pains, be it big or small, of ordinary Berlin residents. It is overwhelmingly informed with the sense of isolation and even depression, as the angels in Berlin are unable to communicate with everyone but themselves effectively.
Set in Berlin, the movie depicts the city in a somewhat ethereal, almost mythical manner. Not only is it populated by angels, but the atmosphere makes it seem as if the love story between an angel and a human might indeed be possible. Yet the very real scenery is showcased multiple times throughout the film, as angels move around going on their business, attempting to save some of the city’s most desperate residents. Thus, the well-known statues, bridges, and streets transform into a surreal landscape full of ghosts, memories, and feelings.
It is notable that the two angels, Damiel and Cassiel, who act as the protagonists of the movie, are incapable of interacting with the physical world. They cannot call a taxi or a train, but manage to appear everywhere the story needs them to, by transcending the material limitations. The angels observe every other person in Berlin interact with the usual urban objects with a mix of emotional detachment and a form of envy. Particularly Daniel, who falls in love with a human, perceives these staples of everyday urban life as manifestations and examples of humanity. In this strange way, the movie presents these ordinary rituals and tokens as valuable and unique parts of the human experience. Berlin is part of the routine for people in this movie, and the routine in turn is part of what constitutes their humanity.
The scene that stand out to me the most was, no doubt, the suicide episode and the unsuccessful angel intervention that occurred right before. Towards the end of the movie, Cassiel looks into the mind of a tormented young man, who was just about to jump off the building. The angel is deeply affected by the understanding of the tragedy that is about to occur and attempts to prevent it by intervening with his mind. Yet, Cassiel is unsuccessful, as neither he nor his companion, can be perceived by anyone by children. I believe this episode to be the most remarkable one in the movie, as it encapsulates its dual philosophy most compellingly. The story is one of hope and light at the end of the tunnel, but it is one of the tunnels, nonetheless. Throughout the film, angels encounter multiple broken and unhappy people, who still seem beautiful to them in how human they are. The beauty, however, is not enough to remedy their suffering.
Symbolically speaking, this can be seen as the film’s leitmotif in its relationship with Berlin. The angels are observing the lives and minds of the city’s everyday residents and have existed within its space long before Berlin was even found. Thus, they have seen the best and the worst days of the city, namely the Nazi period. The latter is specially referenced through the character of filmmaker Peter, who arrives in Berlin to make a movie about the horrifying era. Hence, thematically it is fitting for the story to depict the fragile heartfelt beauty of the ordinary residents of Berlin without shying away from the other, bitter side of reality. In a similarly fitting manner, Damiel in the end is unable to stay with the woman he loves but regards that their time together has transformed him for the better.