The story is mesmerising, we are in West Berlin before the fall of the Wall, and we are following two angels Damiel (excellent Bruno Ganz) and Cassiel (Otto Sander) witnessing their efforts to help humankind by providing some guidance and inspiration, their presence can be felt but not seen. Cassiel follows elderly man named Homer in his Odyssey to reclaim his past and find peace, while Damiel watches over the french circus troupe and falls in love with trapeze artist Marion (Solveig Donmartin). Damiel appears to Marion in her sleep thus creating a bond between them, in consequence he decides he wants to move from just observing human life to truly participating in it by becoming a mortal and joining with Marion.
This is not a typical tear jerking romance, character is this movie ponder over ultimate questions of human existence: Who we are ?, What does it mean to be a human?, What is love? Is there someone who is destined to be with you as your soul mate?. You could possibly write a philosophical essay from every dialogue in this movie.
The side of the story seen through the angels eyes is shot in black and white to emphasise their detachment, coolness, and emptiness of perfection which is devoid of warmth that feeling and experiencing can bring, human world although full of suffering and confusion is shown as colourful and vibrant.
Music in this movie is truly fantastic, brilliantly accentuating every scene. For me the hidden gems of Wings of Desire are two performances from Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds (he used to live in Berlin at that time) with perfectly chosen songs:The Carny and From Her to Eternity.
If you like movies with soul and depth then Wings of Desire is for you, you want regret watching it and you will never forget it.
(Hollywood tried to remake this movie and created barely watchable City of Angels 1998)
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