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Wings of Desire

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Wings of Desire

PG-13

Released Jan 1, 1987

2h 8m

Fantasy

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Popcornmeter

95%

Tomatometer

65 Reviews

93%

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25,000+ Ratings

Two angels, Damiel (Bruno Ganz) and Cassiel (Otto Sander), glide through the streets of Berlin, observing the bustling population, providing invisible rays of hope to the distressed but never interacting with them. When Damiel falls in love with lonely trapeze artist Marion (Solveig Dommartin), the angel longs to experience life in the physical world, and finds--with some words of wisdom from actor Peter Falk (playing himself) -- that it might be possible for him to take human form.

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Critics Consensus

Beyond ravishing, Wings of Desire is Wim Wenders' is aching and heartbreaking exploration of how love makes us human.

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Pauline Kael

The New Yorker

To put it simply, Wings of Desire has a visual fascination but no animating force -- that’s part of why it’s being acclaimed as art.

Sep 15, 2023

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Joe Clay

Times (UK)

Wim Wenders’ astonishing, award-winning fantasy drama depicts life in a divided Berlin through the eyes of angels.

Jun 28, 2022

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Danny Leigh

Financial Times

If some restorations of classic films are mere spit and polish, this one is spectacular: a deepening and sharpening of existing beauty.

Rated: 5/5

Jun 23, 2022

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Charles Mudede

The Stranger (Seattle, WA)

...utterly beautiful and provides a document for West Berlin just before the fall of the wall...

May 11, 2024

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Erick Estrada

Cinegarage

An example of the most inspired Wim Wenders. [Full review in Spanish]

Jun 21, 2023

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

One of those rare motion pictures that manages to bring a true poetic sensibility to the medium of film.

Rated: 4/4

May 24, 2023

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Esra Y

Cinema is and always will be the seventh art.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/05/25

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Marit Risto F

Could have been wonderful. If it wasn't for the lack of colours, and the awful town. More like "Änglagård", would have been great

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

03/15/25

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Julian Rex M

One could (fallibly) argue that Wings of Desire suffers from slack pacing and an over-reliance on heavy-handed dialogue, but ultimately, Wim Wenders' elegantly photographed masterpiece captures the fundamental beauty of the flawed, obsessive, and incredibly loveable nature of the human condition.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/10/25

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Anonymous P

Haunting, magical and unforgettable, 'Der Himmel Über Berlin' is a fascinating, deep and thought-provoking exploration of the human condition and the meaning of life.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/01/24

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Judith R

Hauntingly beautiful. We don’t talk and think about Angels enough.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/22/24

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Chuck D

A very endearing and human movie.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

04/14/24

Full Review

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Wim Wenders

Director

Bruno Ganz

Daniel

Solveig Dommartin

Marion

Otto Sander

Cassiel

Curt Bois

Homer

Peter Falk

Self

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Synopsis

Two angels, Damiel (Bruno Ganz) and Cassiel (Otto Sander), glide through the streets of Berlin, observing the bustling population, providing invisible rays of hope to the distressed but never interacting with them. When Damiel falls in love with lonely trapeze artist Marion (Solveig Dommartin), the angel longs to experience life in the physical world, and finds--with some words of wisdom from actor Peter Falk (playing himself) -- that it might be possible for him to take human form.

Director: Wim Wenders
Producer: Anatole Dauman, Wim Wenders
Screenwriter: Wim Wenders, Peter Handke
Distributor: Orion Pictures
Production Co: Argos Films
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Fantasy
Original Language: German
Release Date (Theaters): Jan 1, 1987, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 23, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA): $120.8K
Runtime: 2h 8m
Sound Mix: Stereo, Dolby Stereo
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.66:1)

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