IMDb > Der Himmel über Berlin (1987)
Der Himmel über Berlin
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Der Himmel über Berlin (1987) More at IMDbPro »

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Der Himmel über Berlin (1987) -- CineMagia.ro - Trailer (Flash)
Der Himmel über Berlin (1987) -- Interview: Wim Wenders "The Angels Among Us"

Overview

User Rating:
8.0/10   17,579 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Up 33% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Wim Wenders
Writers:
Peter Handke (writer)
Richard Reitinger (screenplay)
more
Contact:
View company contact information for Wings of Desire on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
6 May 1988 (USA) more
Genre:
Fantasy | Drama | Romance more
Tagline:
There are angels on the streets of Berlin.
Plot:
An angel tires of overseeing human activity and wishes to become human when he falls in love with a mortal. full summary | full synopsis
Plot Keywords:
more
Awards:
Nominated for BAFTA Film Award. Another 15 wins & 5 nominations more
NewsDesk:
(13 articles)
The Auteurs Daily: DVDs, 11/3.
 (From The Auteurs. 7 November 2009, 3:28 PM, PST)

DVD Of The Week & Podcast: Wings of Desire
 (From GreenCine Daily. 7 November 2009, 10:34 AM, PST)

User Comments:
One of the greatest movies of the late 20th century more (150 total)

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)
Bruno Ganz ... Damiel
Solveig Dommartin ... Marion
Otto Sander ... Cassiel
Curt Bois ... Homer, the aged poet

Peter Falk ... Der Filmstar
Hans Martin Stier ... In weiteren Rollen - Der Sterbende
Elmar Wilms ... In weiteren Rollen - Ein trauriger Mann
Sigurd Rachman ... In weiteren Rollen - Der Selbstmörder
Beatrice Manowski ... In weiteren Rollen - Das Strichmädchen
Lajos Kovács ... Im Zirkus - Marion's Trainer
Bruno Rosaz ... Im Zirkus - Der Clown
Laurent Petitgand ... Im Zirkus - Der Kapellmeister
Chick Ortega ... Im Zirkus - Der Schlagzeuger (as Chico Rojo Ortega)
Otto Kuhnle ... Im Zirkus - Die Jongleure
Christoph Merg ... Im Zirkus - Der Jongleure
more
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Additional Details

Also Known As:
Wings of Desire (UK) (USA)
Les ailes du désir (France)
The Sky Above Berlin (USA) (literal English title)
The Sky Over Berlin (USA) (literal English title)
more
Runtime:
127 min
Aspect Ratio:
1.37 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Dolby
Certification:
Canada:14 (Nova Scotia) (1999) | Iceland:L | Australia:PG (DVD rating) | UK:12 (DVD rating) (2007) | UK:15 (cinema rating) | Brazil:Livre | Argentina:Atp | Australia:M | Finland:S | South Korea:12 | Spain:13 | Sweden:11 | UK:PG | USA:PG-13 | West Germany:6 | Singapore:PG | Canada:G (Quebec) | Canada:PG (Manitoba/Ontario)
Filming Locations:
Berlin, Germany more

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
Filming the actual Berlin Wall was prohibited, so a replica of the wall twice had to be built close to the original. The first fake wall warped in the rain because the contractor cheated the producers and built it from wood. more
Goofs:
Continuity: The position of the trapeze artists' arms change after Bruno stands in her trailer. more
Quotes:
Peter Falk: I'm a friend. Compaņero. more
Movie Connections:
Referenced in Wings of Desire: The Angels Among Us (2003) (V) more
Soundtrack:
The Carny more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
117 out of 130 people found the following comment useful.
One of the greatest movies of the late 20th century, 14 July 2004
10/10
Author: HermesPan from North Carolina

There are so many comments written about this movie, I almost don't want to write anything - but here I am anyway :)

Though everyone is entitled to their own opinion, it disturbs me to read negative comments that WOD is 'too slow' or that Wenders should have been a still life photographer. I think that some people are missing the point of this movie. Wenders filmed this after having been part of the Hollywood machine for several years, and had grown sick of the cookie cutter films that were (and still are) being made in that tradition to produce ticket sales. Yes, this movie doesn't have loads of action and car chase scenes and guns and sex. It does offer some interesting perspectives. The consistent third person view and 'objectification' of the viewer is one aspect. Watching WOD, you don't feel the typical draw into the movie as so often is the case, but rather are a bystander, looking through a window, with your own thoughts and ideas a part of the movie, not the other way around. WOD doesn't allow you to become a subjective part of the film; it 'pushes' you away from empathizing. Even the camera angles and shots motivate this sentiment. The goal and direction of the film are presented without struggle or thought; you know that Damiel wants to be with Marion. He tells Cassiel this, and the only question is - how will he achieve this goal?

WOD belies a sense of traditional film-making. Peter Falk is presented as perhaps the 'idea' of history as fans call out 'Colombo!' The angels are bound to Berlin, existing in a purgatory neither heaven or hell, unable to communicate. The trapeze artist from a traveling circus representing freedom - not only freedom from an everyday lifestyle, but also the key to Damiel's freedom. This movie contains so many interesting ideas and perspectives, that when watched with an open, curious mind, it is fascinating, mesmerizing, calming and inspirational. Filmed entirely in Berlin, the city is not a traditional definition of beautiful. But the industrial, modernist, post WW II reconstructed Berlin is stunning and diverse, providing the perfect background for this modern classic. I cannot recommend this movie enough. But please watch it with open eyes. In the same sense you cannot listen to the music of Schoenberg or Stravinsky as you would Mozart, you cannot watch Wings of Desire as you would a Spielberg movie.

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more (150 total)

Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Der Himmel über Berlin (1987)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
does anyone know... batman62
If you love this film what next? don-lope-de-aguirre
To be continued? mcawesomepants
Movie connection with The Princess Bride?!?!?! ratm_6
Is 'City of Angels' a remake?? mc-sleepy
Same character/actor? quixotegrrl
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