Wings of Desire (Special Edition)
by Wim Wenders, J.M. Kenny
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DVD details
Actor: Bruno Ganz, Curt Bois, Otto Sander, Peter Falk, Solveig DommartinDirector: J.M. Kenny, Wim Wenders
Writer: Peter Handke
Writer: Wim Wenders
Producer: Anatole Dauman
Producer: Gina Hall
Producer: Ingrid Windisch
Writer: Richard Reitinger
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Original Language); German (Original Language); English (Subtitled); French (Subtitled); Spanish (Subtitled)
Format: Black & White, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, DVD, NTSC, Special Edition, Subtitled, Widescreen
Picture Format: 1.78:1
Running Time: 128 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2003-07-01
Audience Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: MGM (Video & DVD)
DVD Reviews of Wings of Desire (Special Edition)
DVD Review: Incredible.
Summary: 5 Stars
This review is for the Criterion Collection DVD edition of the film.
"Wings of Desire" released in Germany as "Der Himmel ?ber Berlin" which translates to "Heaven/Sky over Berlin" The film made in 1987 is about two angels who watch over the people of Berlin. They can hear people's thoughts and other things about then. The angels see only in black and white but when one later becomes human, he sees in color.
The film is followed by a sequel "Far Away, So Close" made in 1994. The Berlin wall is a major plot element in both films. and I watched them both around the 20th anniversary of the wall coming down. Both films are incredible and I hope Criterion will eventually release the sequel. Both films are directed by Wim Wenders. Peter Falk has a role in the film as himself which includes fictional parts of his life.
The DVD is a two disc set and includes the film with optional audio commentary by Wenders and Falk, and the trailers for the film.
Disc two contains deleted scenes and outtakes, interviews with cast and crew, including a 2003 retrospective on both films, and scenes from the films, "Alekan la lumi?re" and "Remembrance: Film for Curt Bois" This film is incredible and one must view the sequel too.
DVD Review: Invisible Angels in West Berlin
Summary: 4 Stars
"Wings of Desire" beautifully uses the medium of film to create a unique and sometimes surreal viewing experience. Directed by Wim Wenders, the film centers on two guardian angels, Damiel (Bruno Ganz) and Cassiel (Otto Sander) who, along with their fellow guardian angels, bear witness to everything that takes place around them on Earth, specifically the streets of 1987 West Berlin. Moving invisibly through the city, they observe, collect, and share people's thoughts, fears, and memories. This is shown in a scene in a public library, where we hear the inner monologues of many people, a technique that suggests switching from one radio station to the next. In the library, the number of angels is almost as large as the mortals, as each angel seeks something interesting or worthy to commit to memory. After an eternity of observing, Damiel begins to wonder what it would be like to be mortal. When he encounters and is attracted to the lonely trapeze artist Marion (Solveig Dommartin), he decides to become human.
"Wings of Desire" is a tough film. The first two-thirds -- up until Damiel meets Marion -- defy traditional plot narrative, relying instead on philosophical reflections on the human condition. There are lots of characters, but little time is spent on them. Wenders concentrates on Marion, an elderly man (Curt Bois) and actor Peter Falk, as himself, who's come to Berlin to make a movie. If you're willing to be patient, "Wings of Desire" pays off in the dreamlike black-and-white and color cinematography of Henri Alekan and a beautiful score by Jurgen Kiepner.
"Wings of Desire" contains the following extras: a booklet with photos, chapter headings, and a critical article; deleted scenes; outtakes; a documentary about the film featuring cast and crew interviews; audio commentary by Wim Wenders and Peter Falk; and theatrical trailers.
DVD Review: Splendid Version
Summary: 5 Stars
This is one case where the Criterion version of a DVD really makes a big difference in the quality of the film. I liked Wings of Desire the first time I saw it, but this new version is clean and beautiful. Seeing it this way a second time made more of an impression on me. WOD is a subtle and tender movie about being human, and it is fascinating to learn about how the film was put together. DVD Review: The ORIGINAL German Film That Inspired "City of Angels" Gets The Criterion Treatment!
Summary: 4 Stars
Winner of the best director award in the Cannes film festival, the 1987 German film "WINGS OF DESIRE" (original title: Der Himmel ?ber Berlin = Heaven Over Berlin) inspired the Hollywood film directed by Brad Silberling called "City of Angels" which became a box-office success. This film was inspired by the poetry written by Rainer Maria Rilke and was followed by a sequel called "Faraway, So Close". This German film goes into the belief that the grass is greener on the other side and that something so different can be so enticing. Like everything else, the original is always better (about 99.9% of the time) and Criterion finally brings this beautiful film into a fully restored edition.
Berlin, just before the end of the Cold War, Damiel (Bruno Ganz, Downfall) and Cassiel (Otto Sander, Das Boot) are two angels who travel high and above to observe, testify and preserve; they also listen to the thoughts of people in the streets of Berlin. The two are angels ever since the dawn of time; and although they are angels, they cannot interact, unseen to all except to innocent children. During one of their travels, Cassiel becomes intrigued by an old man named Homer (Curt Bois) who dreams of epic peace and Damiel slowly begins to fall in love for a female trapeze performer named Marion (Solveig Dommartin) who is very talented but also very lonely. Eventually, Damiel longs for physicality and to take on human form. He forsakes his immortality and begins to bleed, taste and see the world in color. Damiel is about to embark on a new experience...
Director Wim Wenders co-wrote the film's script with Peter Handke (who also wrote the film's recurring poem "Song of Childhood). Much of the film's dialogue feels, sounds and exudes pure poetry throughout and the film's narrations and the dialogue is so beautiful.
"...When a child was child, I didn't know it was a child, everything was soulful and all souls were one."
The film is also mostly shot in black and white; in effect this represents the angels' viewpoint that the physical world is without color and nothing could attract more attention than the other. It was a clever touch to see through the eyes of someone who is supposed to be impartial or as Cassiel had stated to "testify" when the time had come. I think the black and white also represents the fact that the angels have no cause for emotion and care. Immortality and eternity also seems very attractive but it does come with a price. (please keep in mind that the angels in the film are ones portrayed by the director, seen through the eyes of a human and not to be mistaken as fact)
The film's opening act was full of visual poetry as the two angels observe and listen to everyday walks of human life; they are fascinated and at the same time genuinely concerned about us mere mortals. Through their eyes, humanity is represented through our hopes and dreams, our fears and worries and above all the need to be loved and to love. The direction manages to represent both the beauty and the ugliness of humanity; Director Wenders made the right call in shooting the film in Berlin during the days when the wall was still up, and the city while depressing, exposes the strengths and the fragilities of the human spirit. It was no surprise that Damiel would be fascinated with what he saw.
What I got from the film is the message that life is precious and that every waking hour is important. The angels in this film have no emotion, and I think that when Cassiel and Damiel touches a human who is depressed or thinking of suicide, they are trying to understand the emotions that swell within the heart. I guess humans have a way to bring out the most extreme emotions by reflecting on their hardships and their own lives. Being human has its merits and someone different sees the beauty of things we usually take fore granted. Humans can feel, and for an intangible angel, it seems very curious. Peter Falk also stars as himself, and Wenders gives his character an enigmatic feel as later revealed in the film's final act.
The love story between Damiel and Marion may seem to be the film's focal point, but the direction remembers to show the beauty that is Berlin. As I've said, this film is more than a love story, it brings humanity itself into exposition. The depressing populace and the circus scenes served Wenders' intentions quite well. The beautiful dialogue, (Marion's speech was just full of poetic meaning that it would just turn any woman into putty) the visual style all complement each other. One small fault the film may have is the fact that the movie is not for everyone, it has a sleepy feel and may be too cryptic and poetic for its own good. Mainstream audiences would become bored while those who appreciate stunning cinema would praise Wenders' work.
"Wings of Desire" is the type of film that may require multiple viewings and I think each viewing may change one`s opinion of the film. There is an abundant use of symbolisms in the film and one would have fun trying to decipher each one. The film is indeed special, and transcends any elementary classification one may become tempted to staple it with.
Highly Recommended! [4 ? Stars]
Note: If you own the MGM release of the film, this Criterion release is very much worth the double dip. This new DVD release looks and sounds better than the previous release.
DVD Review: Criterion Collection Edition Loaded with Extras!
Summary: 5 Stars
The first disc features an audio commentary that actually consists of excerpts of interviews with director Wim Wenders and actor Peter Falk over several years. Wenders talks about the origins of Wings of Desire - it was a return to his hometown of Berlin after spending eight years in the United States. He had planned to make another film but it was too complex and expensive. He had to come up with another idea and quick or the production company he had assembled would break up. This fascinating anecdote is only one of many engaging stories as the two men tell all kinds of filming tales. They do a good job of taking us through the making of this film.
Also included are the German theatrical trailer and an amusing "Wen Wunderts" promo trailer.
The second disc features the bulk of the extra material, starting off with "The Angels Among Us," a 2003 documentary where key cast and crew members are interviewed. Wenders wanted to make a film about Berlin, the way he remembered it when he was young. Peter Handke talks about his unconventional approach to the script. For the two main angels, Wenders cast Bruno Ganz and Otto Sander based on their 20-year friendship and working relationship. Everyone speaks quite eloquently about their experiences making Wings of Desire.
"Cinema Cinemas" features an interview with Wenders from the February 17, 1987 episode of this French television program. We see Wenders at work on the set of Wings of Desire with his cast and crew shooting scenes from the film.
Also included are nine deleted scenes with commentary by Wenders and outtakes but only with music. Not surprisingly, there is a lot of footage of the angels observing humanity. The outtakes feature all sorts of beautiful shots of Berlin.
There is also a gallery of production design photographs that also highlight the film's gorgeous art direction. Included are captions that comment on some of these stills.
Also included is an interview excerpt from an interview with director of photography Henri Alekan done in November 1985. He talks about the challenge of achieving the right tone and atmosphere in a film.
"Alekan la Lumiere" features excerpts from a 1985 documentary where Alekan talks to Wenders about his cinematic techniques. There is also footage of him at work.
Finally, there is an excerpt from Remembrance, a 1982 film directed by Ganz and Sander about actor Curt Bois who went on to appear in Wings of Desire.
Description of Wings of Desire (Special Edition)
From Oscar?-nominated* writer/director Wim Wenders (Buena Vista Social Club) comes this "exhilarating" (Vanity Fair) and life-affirming tale that won him the 1987 Best Director award at the Cannes Film Festival and inspired City of Angels. Co-written with Peter Handke, this "enchanting" (The New York Times) film about the joy of life is "that rare thing a work of true originality" (Newsweek)! Damiel (Bruno Ganz) is a lonely angel who roams the streets of Berlin providing comfort to mortals in need. But when he is drawn into the life of a beautifuland troubledtrapeze artist, he experiences love for the first time and does everything in his power to be seen, heard and felt by her. Jeopardizing his divine position, Damiel is faced with a most difficult decision: either give up love or lose his eternal wings forever! *1999: Documentary Feature, Buena Vista Social Club"There are angels over the streets of Berlin," quotes the movie poster, but these are like no angels you've ever seen. Bundled in dark overcoats, they watch over the city with ears open to the heartbeat of the human soul, listening to the internal musings and yearnings of earthbound humans like existential detectives. In these delicate, astounding scenes we float through the thoughts of dozens Berlin citizens, from the weary and worn to the hopeful and young, as the angels record the magic moments for some heavenly record. But when Damiel (the empathic and sensitive Bruno Ganz) falls in love with an angel of another sort, the lonely trapeze artist Marion (willowy, sad-eyed Solveig Dommartin), he gives up the contemplation and observation of life to experience it himself.
Wim Wenders's most purely romantic film is like poetry on celluloid, a celebration of the transient and fragile moments of being human: the warmth of a cup of coffee on a cold day, the embrace of a friend, the touch of a lover, the rapture of love. Opening with an angel's-eye view of Berlin in silvery black and white (delicately captured by the great cinematographer Henri Alekan, who photographed Jean Cocteau's Beauty and the Beast 40 years earlier), it transforms into a gauzy color world when Damiel "crosses over" by sheer will. Peter Falk plays himself as a fallen angel with a special sensitivity for celestial visitors ("I can't see you, but I know you're there," he proclaims), and Otto Sander, whose smiling eyes brighten a face etched by eons of waiting and watching, is Damiel's partner. Wenders made a sequel in 1993, Faraway, So Close, and Hollywood remade the film as City of Angels with Nicolas Cage and Meg Ryan. --Sean Axmaker
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