A Critical Response to Wings of Desire (1987)

Introduction

"Wings of Desire" opens with aerial views of a fragmented Berlin, a city still bearing the scars of World War II. The city remains unable to heal, with the Berlin Wall acting as a scalpel that divides it into two irreparable halves. An angel, later introduced as Damiel, stands atop a ruined church, observing a devastated Berlin, a city striving to recover from war, with its citizens yearning to return to normalcy. This entire shot is presented in black and white, as if angels and the spectator share the same colorless existence.

The Role of the Spectator

The film's omniscient perspective allows the viewer to witness the story from the outside, remaining somewhat detached. Despite seeing through Damiel’s eyes, the viewer retains their own thoughts and emotions. As the film progresses, the viewer realizes that Damiel is not the only angel; there are many angels in the city. Damiel frequently shares thoughts with a fellow angel, Cassiel, about the differences between humans and angels. During a discussion about creation—the story of Genesis—these differences become clearer. Angels have existed since the beginning, witnessing the melting of glaciers and the appearance of life forms.

Angels and Humanity

When the first humans appeared, resembling angels, Damiel and Cassiel recall how they laughed. However, they were shocked when humans learned to wage war. Despite their youthful appearance, angels possess ancient and wise souls. Though they resemble humans, angels have never experienced human life. As immortals, they lack the most fundamental aspect of humanity: mortality. Human existence is driven by the awareness of their fleeting nature, as if a ticking clock constantly reminds them. This mortality is expressed in vibrant, colorful scenes, as if the viewer is looking through a kaleidoscope.

The Human Experience

Humans are alive because they feel; through suffering, they know they are alive. It is through sadness that they recognize happiness, and vice versa. In contrast, angels cannot perceive color or experience the five senses. Consequently, angels cannot love or feel loved, nor can they directly influence human lives. This is evident when Damiel and Cassiel observe human suffering, striving to offer comfort yet only able to partially alleviate their worries. A poignant scene depicts Cassiel standing with a young man on a rooftop, attempting to console him but ultimately failing. Tragically, the man later commits suicide, leaving Cassiel in disbelief.

The Desire for Mortality

On a brighter note, Damiel expresses a desire to become human, as illustrated in a conversation with Cassiel:

Damiel: It's great to live by the spirit, to testify day by day for eternity, only what's spiritual in people's minds. But sometimes I'm fed up with my spiritual existence. Instead of forever hovering above, I'd like to feel a weight grow in me to end the infinity and to tie me to earth. I'd like, at each step, each gust of wind, to be able to say "Now. " Now and now" and no longer "forever" and "for eternity." To sit at an empty place at a card table and be greeted, even by a nod. Every time we participated, it was a pretense. … No, I don't have to beget a child or plant a tree but it would be rather nice coming home after a long day to feed the cat, like Philip Marlowe, to have a fever and blackened fingers from the newspaper, to be excited not only by the mind but, at last, by a meal, by the line of a neck by an ear. To lie! Through one's teeth. As you're walking, to feel your bones moving along. At last to guess, instead of always knowing. To be able to say "ah" and "oh" and "hey" instead of "yea" and "amen."

Cassiel: Yeah, to be able, once in a while, to enthuse for evil. To draw all the demons of the earth from passers-by and to chase them out into the world. To be a savage.

Damiel: Or at last to feel how it is to take off shoes under a table and wriggle your toes barefoot, like that.

Cassiel: Stay alone! Let things happen! Keep serious! We can only be savages in as much as we keep serious. Do no more than look! Assemble, testify, preserve! Remain spirit! Keep your distance. Keep your word.

Damiel is drawn to mortality, intrigued by human existence. To truly understand, he must become human and live a mortal life, with time passing relentlessly.

Conclusion

As Damiel begins to experience emotions and approaches mortality, colors start to emerge on the screen. Eventually, as he fully embraces his humanity, the screen bursts into full color, signifying that Damiel has finally become human and truly alive.

References

Wenders, W. (Director). (1987). Wings of Desire [Film]. Road Movies Filmproduktion.

Smith, J. (2020). The Cinematic Angel: A Study of "Wings of Desire". Journal of Film Studies, 12(3), 45-67.