Wings of Desire is one of most remarkably beautiful films ever made. Everything: from the music by Nick Cave, the touching performances by Bruno Ganz, Solveig Dommartin, and Peter Falk (as himself), the enchanting cinematography by Henri Alekan, and the wonderful, evocative writing come together to make a thought provoking, emotive, and prepossessing film that you would simply be a fool not to see.
Wim Wenders creates a universe where gentle, trench coat wearing angels look over the war-scared inhabitants of Berlin, listening to their thoughts and offering solace in silence. Ganz plays one such angel who finds love in a circus acrobat and becomes human to be with her.
On this journey (where the film changes from exquisite black and white to stunning color film) he finds he is not the only angel who has become human–Columbo himself, we find, is a retired angel as well. But the film, which is framed by a poem by Peter Handke, is so much more than its plot, it is a true modern masterpiece.
But what do you think?