Wings of Desire (1987)
Der Himmel über Berlin (original title)Reference View | Change View
- PG-13
- 2h 8min
- Drama, Fantasy
- 06 May 1988 (USA)
- Movie
An angel tires of his purely ethereal life of merely overseeing the human activity of Berlin's residents, and longs for the tangible joys of physical existence when he falls in love with a mortal.
Director:
Writers:
Stars:
Awards:
- Nominated for 1 BAFTA Film Award. Another 18 wins & 13 nominations.
- See more »
Reviews:
Photos and Videos
Cast verified as complete
| Bruno Ganz | ... |
Damiel
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| Solveig Dommartin | ... |
Marion
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| Otto Sander | ... |
Cassiel
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| Curt Bois | ... |
Homer
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| Peter Falk | ... |
Der Filmstar
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| Hans-Martin Stier | ... |
In weiteren Rollen - Der Sterbende
(as Hans Martin Stier)
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Elmar Wilms | ... |
In weiteren Rollen - Ein trauriger Mann
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Sigurd Rachman | ... |
In weiteren Rollen - Der Selbstmörder
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Beatrice Manowski | ... |
In weiteren Rollen - Das Strichmädchen
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Lajos Kovács | ... |
Im Zirkus - Marion's Trainer
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Bruno Rosaz | ... |
Im Zirkus - Der Clown
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Laurent Petitgand | ... |
Im Zirkus - Der Kapellmeister
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Chick Ortega | ... |
Im Zirkus - Der Schlagzeuger
(as Chico Rojo Ortega)
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Otto Kuhnle | ... |
Im Zirkus - Die Jongleure
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Christoph Merg | ... |
Im Zirkus - Der Jongleure
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Peter Werner | ... |
Im Zirkus - Der Manager
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Susanne Vierkötter | ... |
Im Zirkus
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| Paul Busch | ... |
Im Zirkus
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Karin Busch | ... |
Im Zirkus
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Irene Moessinger | ... |
Im Zirkus
(as Irene Mössinger)
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Franky | ... |
Im Zirkus - last but not least
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| Teresa Harder | ... |
In der Bibliothek - Die Engel
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Daniela Nasimcova | ... |
In der Bibliothek - Die Engel
(as Daniela Nasincova)
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| Bernard Eisenschitz | ... |
In der Bibliothek - Die Engel
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| Didier Flamand | ... |
In der Bibliothek - Die Engel
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Rolf Henke | ... |
In der Bibliothek - Die Engel
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Scott Kirby | ... |
In der Bibliothek - Die Engel
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Franck Glemin | ... |
In der Bibliothek - Die Engel
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Jerry Barrish | ... |
Im Bunker - Der Regisseur
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Jeanette Pollak | ... |
Im Bunker - Die Kostümbildnerin
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Christian Bartels | ... |
Im Bunker - Der 'Hitlerjunge'
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David Crome | ... |
Im Bunker - Der Regieassistent
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Käthe Fürstenwerth | ... |
Im Bunker
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Werner Schönrock | ... |
Im Bunker
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Bernd Ramien | ... |
Im Bunker
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Erika Rabau | ... |
Im Bunker
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Silvia Blagojeva Itscherenska | ... |
Im Bunker
(as Silvia Blagojeva)
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Sultan Meral | ... |
Im Bunker
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Olivier Picot | ... |
Im Bunker
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Jochen Gliscinsky | ... |
Im Bunker
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Erich Schupke | ... |
Im Bunker
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Margarete Hafner | ... |
In den Altbauwohnungen
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Oliver Herder | ... |
In den Altbauwohnungen
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Margita Haberland | ... |
In den Altbauwohnungen
(as Margitta Haberland)
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| Jürgen Heinrich | ... |
In den Altbauwohnungen
(as Jürgen Heinrichs)
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Ralf Strathmann | ... |
In den Altbauwohnungen
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Walter Ratayszak | ... |
In den Altbauwohnungen
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Charlotte Oberberg | ... |
In den Altbauwohnungen
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Lubinka Kostic | ... |
In den Altbauwohnungen
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Gisela Westerboer | ... |
Auf der Autobahn
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Andreas Valentin | ... |
Auf der Autobahn
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Annelinde Gerstl | ... |
Auf der Autobahn
(as Anne Gerstl)
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Wolf-Dirk Vogeley | ... |
Auf der Autobahn
(as Dirk Vogeley)
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Ruth Rischke | ... |
Auf der Autobahn
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Familie Ayik | ... |
Auf der Autobahn
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Simon Bonney | ... |
Crime and The City Solution
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| Mick Harvey | ... |
Crime and The City Solution / Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds
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Harry Howard | ... |
Crime and The City Solution
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Rowland S. Howard | ... |
Crime and The City Solution
(as Rowland Howard)
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Epic Soundtracks | ... |
Crime and The City Solution
(as Kevin Godfrey)
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| Nick Cave | ... |
Self - Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds
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Thomas Wydler | ... |
Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds
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| Blixa Bargeld | ... |
Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds
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Roland Wolf | ... |
Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds
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| Kid Congo Powers | ... |
Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds
(as Kid Congo)
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Denis Rodriguez | ... |
Mit den Kindern
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Dieta von Aster | ... |
Mit den Kindern
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Gustav Geisler | ... |
Mit den Kindern
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Paul Geisler | ... |
Mit den Kindern
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Lorenz Geisler | ... |
Mit den Kindern
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Sladjana Kostic | ... |
Mit den Kindern
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Benedikt Schumann | ... |
Mit den Kindern
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Nicolas Roth | ... |
Mit den Kindern
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Marcus Stenzel | ... |
Mit den Kindern
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Benjamin Ferchow | ... |
Mit den Kindern
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Mario Meyer | ... |
Mit den Kindern
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Mark Leuschner | ... |
Mit den Kindern
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Tibor Dahlenburg | ... |
Mit den Kindern
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Lia Harder | ... |
Mit den Kindern
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Mascha Noak | ... |
Mit den Kindern
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Vera Butzek | ... |
Mit den Kindern
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Donald Behrendt | ... |
Mit den Kindern
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Patric Kreuzer |
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Simone Säger |
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Gerdi Hofmann |
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Ulrike Schirm |
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Hans Marquardt |
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Heimke Karl |
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Klaus Mausolf |
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Özyer Hüsinye |
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Jean-Claude Lezin |
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Thierry Noir |
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Matthias Maaß |
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Henry Luczkow |
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| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
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Louis Cochet | ... |
Circus Spotlight Operator (uncredited)
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Lina Otto | ... |
Mädchen im Club (uncredited)
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Johanna Penski | ... |
Blumenverkäuferin (uncredited)
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Directed by
| Wim Wenders | ||
Written by
| Wim Wenders | ... | (screenplay by) and |
| Peter Handke | ... | (screenplay by) |
| Richard Reitinger | ... | (screenplay collaboration) |
| Bernard Eisenschitz | ... | () (uncredited) |
Produced by
| Anatole Dauman | ... | producer |
| Pascale Dauman | ... | associate producer |
| Joachim von Mengershausen | ... | associate producer |
| Wim Wenders | ... | producer |
| Ingrid Windisch | ... | executive producer |
Music by
| Jürgen Knieper | ||
Cinematography by
| Henri Alekan | ||
Editing by
| Peter Przygodda | ||
Editorial Department
| Leni Pütz-Savieto | ... | assistant editor (as Leni Savietto-Pütz) |
| Anne Schnee | ... | assistant editor |
| Philipp Orgassa | ... | digital restoration colorist (uncredited) |
| Dave Pultz | ... | color timer (uncredited) |
Art Direction by
| Heidi Lüdi | ||
Costume Design by
| Monika Jacobs | ||
Makeup Department
| Regina Huyer | ... | makeup artist |
| Victor Leitenbauer | ... | key makeup artist (as Viktor Leitenbauer) |
Production Management
| Herbert Kerz | ... | first unit manager |
| Barbara von Wrangell | ... | second unit manager |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
| Claire Denis | ... | first assistant director |
| Carola Hochgräf | ... | third assistant director |
| Knut Winkler | ... | second assistant director |
Art Department
| Peter Alteneder | ... | property master: outdoor |
| Henrik Gross | ... | assistant property master |
| Alexander Korn | ... | set designer |
| Claude Lalanne | ... | sculptor |
| Werner Mooser | ... | assistant set decorator |
| Thierry Noir | ... | repainter: Berlin Wall |
| Markus Pluta | ... | set designer |
| Peter Uhlig | ... | property assistant |
| Joost van der Velden | ... | sculptor (as Jost Van Der Velden) |
| Esther Walz | ... | property master: indoor |
Sound Department
| Axel Arft | ... | sound |
| Hartmut Eichgrün | ... | re-recording mixer |
| Lothar Mankewitz | ... | sound processing |
| Jean-Paul Mugel | ... | sound |
| Uwe Thalmann | ... | sound assistant |
| Detlev Fichtner | ... | sound processing (uncredited) |
Visual Effects by
| Fritz Lehmann | ... | front projection |
| Wolfgang Schmidt | ... | front projection |
Stunts
| Hans Seck | ... | stunt performer (uncredited) |
Camera and Electrical Department
| Peter Ch. Arnold | ... | additional camera operator |
| Klemens Becker | ... | helicopter camera |
| Klaus Bieling | ... | best boy |
| Frank Blasberg | ... | second unit |
| Peter Braatz | ... | second unit |
| Dieter Bähr | ... | grip |
| Louis Cochet | ... | assistant camera |
| Dieter Dentzer | ... | lighting technician |
| Claus Gerling | ... | lighting technician |
| Agnès Godard | ... | assistant camera |
| Thomas Gosda | ... | lighting technician |
| Bernd Hübner | ... | gaffer |
| Klaus Krieger | ... | helicopter camera |
| Martin Kukula | ... | additional camera operator |
| Thomas Plenert | ... | shooter: East Berlin |
| Achim Poulheim | ... | focus puller |
| Ralf Strathmann | ... | still photographer |
Costume and Wardrobe Department
| Brigitte Friedländer-Rodriguez | ... | wardrobe |
| Irmtraud Simon | ... | wardrobe (as Irmtraud 'Simone' Simon) |
Music Department
| Emmanuel Chamboredon | ... | soundtrack album producer (uncredited) |
Script and Continuity Department
| Gabriele Mattner | ... | script supervisor (as Gabi Mattner) |
Transportation Department
| Martin Karlinski | ... | production driver |
| Ruediger Kersting | ... | production driver (as Rüdiger Kersting) |
| Dieter Stempnierwsky | ... | production driver |
Additional Crew
| Catherine Coste | ... | production secretary |
| Pascale Dauman | ... | production consultant |
| Franck Glemin | ... | production assistant (as Franck Glémin) |
| Scott Kirby | ... | production assistant |
| Dieter Koschorrek | ... | bird trainer |
| Charlotte Laeuffer-Roll | ... | production cashier (as Charlotte Läufer-Roll) |
| Uli Mayer | ... | titles |
| Wolfgang Rapior | ... | caterer |
| Inge Ruf | ... | production accountant |
| Annette Seggert | ... | caterer |
| Chris Sievernich | ... | production consultant |
| Tilmann Vierzig | ... | production wizard |
| Ulla Zwicker | ... | assistant to producer |
| Mickey Cottrell | ... | publicist (uncredited) |
| Marie-Christine Malbert | ... | publicist (uncredited) |
| Ulla Zwicker | ... | production coordinator (uncredited) |
Thanks
| Pierre Bergam | ... | thanks für trapeze advice |
| Ulla Fukosawa-Oberbeckmann | ... | thanks |
| Major Gick | ... | thanks |
| François Lehr | ... | thanks |
| Yasujirô Ozu | ... | dedicatee (as Yasujiro) |
| Andrei Tarkovsky | ... | dedicatee (as Andrej) |
| François Truffaut | ... | dedicatee (as François) |
| Barbara von Weitershausen | ... | thanks |
Production Companies
Distributors
- Basis-Film Verleih (1987) (West Germany) (theatrical)
- Argos Films (1987) (France) (theatrical)
- Constantin-Film (1987) (Austria) (theatrical)
- Filmverlag der Autoren (1987) (West Germany) (theatrical)
- Dendy Films (1988) (Australia) (theatrical)
- Finnkino (1988) (Finland) (theatrical)
- France Eigasha (1988) (Japan) (theatrical)
- Musidora Films (1988) (Spain) (theatrical)
- Orion Classics (1988) (United States) (theatrical) (subtitled)
- Plånborg Film (1988) (Sweden) (theatrical)
- Recorded Releasing (1988) (United Kingdom) (theatrical)
- UFA Video (1988) (West Germany) (VHS)
- Videosonic (1988) (Greece) (VHS)
- Image Entertainment (1989) (United States) (video) (laserdisc)
- Showtime Video (1989) (Finland) (VHS)
- Lucernafilm - Beta (1991) (Czechoslovakia) (theatrical)
- Columbia TriStar Hoyts Home Video (1992) (Australia) (video)
- NHK-BS2 (1992) (Japan) (tv)
- Filmverlag der Autoren (1993) (Germany) (theatrical)
- Orion Home Video (1993) (United States) (VHS)
- Yleisradio (YLE) (1993) (Finland) (tv)
- NHK Kyôiku (1994) (Japan) (tv)
- Alliance Atlantis Home Video (1999) (Canada) (VHS)
- Cinefil Imagica (1999) (Japan) (DVD)
- MGM Home Entertainment (2000) (United States) (VHS)
- MGM World Films (2000) (United States) (VHS)
- Primer Plano Film Group (2000) (Argentina) (DVD)
- SBP (2000) (Argentina) (VHS)
- Asociace Ceských Filmových Klubu (ACFK) (2002) (Czechia) (theatrical) (re-release)
- Ripley's Film (2002) (Italy)
- Rosebud (2003) (Greece) (theatrical)
- Carmen Video (2003) (Russia) (DVD)
- MGM Home Entertainment (2003) (United States) (DVD)
- Ripley's Home Video (2003) (Italy) (DVD)
- Kinowelt Home Entertainment (2005) (Germany) (DVD)
- Madman Entertainment (2007) (Australia)
- Madman Entertainment (2007) (New Zealand)
- atlas Film (2007) (Germany) (DVD)
- Sandrew Metronome Distribution (2009) (Finland) (DVD)
- Sandrews (2009) (Sweden) (DVD)
- The Criterion Collection (2009) (United States) (DVD)
- The Criterion Collection (2009) (United States) (Blu-ray) (DVD)
- New Star (2010) (Greece) (theatrical) (re-release)
- Emerald (2010) (Argentina) (DVD)
- UTV Entertainment Television (2010) (India) (tv) (Hindi subtitles)
- Leader Music (2012) (Argentina) (DVD) (as Leader Vision)
- StudioCanal (2013) (Germany) (Blu-ray) (DVD)
- VIGGO (2015) (Italy)
- StraDa Films (2016) (Greece) (theatrical) (re-release)
- A Contracorriente Films (2016) (Spain) (re-release)
- Leopardo Filmes (2017) (Portugal)
- Janus Films (2018) (United States) (theatrical) (re-release)
- HBO Max (2020) (United States) (video) (VOD)
- Russian World Vision (2023) (Russia) (theatrical)
- Vídeo Arte (Brazil) (VHS)
Special Effects
Other Companies
- Studio Bartoschek (titles)
- Bovril & Lewis & Clarke (catering)
- British Army (thanks for helicopter pilots)
- Tempodrom (thanks)
- Sipa Press (thanks)
- Intervision Cinerent (lighting and camera equipment)
- Mobiles Ausstattungs Team (camera crane)
- Cannes Film Festival (festival)
- Locarno International Film Festival (festival)
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
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. Written by Huggo |
| Plot Keywords | |
| Taglines | There are angels on the streets of Berlin. See more » |
| Genres | |
| Parents Guide | View content advisory » |
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Box Office
| Cumulative Worldwide Gross | $5,850,809 |
Did You Know?
| Trivia | In the closing titles it says: "Dedicated to all the former angels, but especially to Yasujiro, François and Andrej." This refers to film directors Yasujirô Ozu, François Truffaut, and Andrei Tarkovsky. All were favorites of director Wim Wenders. At the time of filming "Wings of Desire" Truffaut and Tarkovsky had only recently passed away, in 1984 and 1986. Ozu died in 1963. See more » |
| Goofs | When Cassiel (Otto Sander) is crossing the street, a bus slows down to allow him to cross the road, then accelerates once he's clear. As Cassiel is an invisible angel, the bus driver shouldn't have been able to see him. See more » |
| Movie Connections | Featured in Red Heat/A World Apart/Rikky and Pete/Poltergeist III/Wings of Desire (1988). See more » |
| Soundtracks | Zirkusmusik See more » |
| Crazy Credits | Dedicated to all the former angels, but especially to Yasujiro, François and Andrej. See more » |
| Quotes |
Damiel:
When the child was a child, it was the time of these questions. Why am I me, and why not you? Why am I here, and why not there? When did time begin, and where does space end? Isn't life under the sun just a dream? Isn't what I see, hear, and smell just the mirage of a world before the world? Does evil actually exist, and are there people who are really evil? How can it be that I, who am I, wasn't before I was, and that sometime I, the one I am, no longer will be the one I am? See more » |