8.1/10
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Der Himmel über Berlin (1987)

An angel tires of overseeing human activity and wishes to become human when he falls in love with a mortal.

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Writers:

, (screenplay) | 1 more credit »
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Popularity
4,273 ( 208)
Nominated for 1 BAFTA Film Award. Another 18 wins & 10 nominations. See more awards »
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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
...
...
...
...
Homer
...
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
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Storyline

Visible only to those like them and to human children, Damiel and Cassiel are two angels, who have existed even before humankind. Along with several other angels, they currently wander around West Berlin, generally on their own, observing and preserving life, sometimes trying to provide comfort to the troubled, although those efforts are not always successful. Among those they are currently observing are: the cast and crew of a movie - a detective story set in WWII Nazi Germany - which include a sensitive and perceptive Peter Falk; an elderly man named Homer looking for eternal peace; and the troupe of a financially failing circus, which has closed early for the season because of those financial problems. One day, Damiel tells Cassiel that he wants to become human, to feel not only the sensory aspects of physical beings, but also emotional aspects. He embarks on this thought with the full realization that there is no turning back if he decides to do so. His thoughts are largely ... Written by Huggo

Plot Summary | Plot Synopsis

Plot Keywords:

suicide | library | angel | circus | berlin | See All (62) »

Taglines:

There are angels on the streets of Berlin.

Genres:

Drama | Fantasy | Romance

Certificate:

See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

 »
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Details

Country:

|

Release Date:

23 September 1987 (France)  »

Also Known As:

Las alas del deseo  »

Box Office

Gross:

$3,806,540 (USA) (18 September 1998)
 »

Company Credits

Show detailed on  »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

Color:

(Eastmancolor)| (partly)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1
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Did You Know?

Trivia

In Spain was only released in subtitled version. The re-release in 2016 was in 3 theaters: Madrid (Conde Duque, Verdi) and Barcelona (Verdi). The film was projected 1 day and also in subtitled version. See more »

Goofs

After Damiel becomes human, he buys a cup of coffee at a food stand. The proprietor pours coffee into a plastic cup, and Damiel immediately takes a large gulp - neither of which would be possible if the coffee were hot, as it would be if it were freshly poured. See more »

Quotes

[first lines]
[in German, using English subtitles]
Damiel: [voiceover] When the child was a child, it walked with its arms swinging. It wanted the stream to be a river, the river a torrent, and this puddle to be the sea. When the child was a child, it didn't know it was a child. Everything was full of life, and all life was one. When the child was a child, it had no opinion about anything, no habits. It often sat cross-legged, took off running, had a cowlick in its hair, and didn't make faces when ...
See more »

Crazy Credits

Dedicated to all the former angels, but especially to Yasujiro, François and Andrej. See more »

Connections

Referenced in Wings (2003) See more »

Soundtracks

Zirkusmusik
by Laurent Petitgand
See more »

Frequently Asked Questions

See more (Spoiler Alert!) »

User Reviews

 
Beautiful, poetic, stimulating
2 July 2004 | by (London, England) – See all my reviews

A calm and wonderful fantasy with such a simple vision that makes you want to believe in angels. Perhaps they are there... whenever my mood changes, seemingly unprompted, I always wonder.

Hijacked and debased by people who don't know any better (even U2, I'm afraid, and the American remake must be avoided at all costs - ideally it should be wiped from the record and the memories of all who saw it) this film has become iconic and has infected the imaginations of countless filmmakers. Look carefully and you will see its influence in the most unexpected places.

I always thought that one masterpiece is all that anyone can aspire to in life. Wim Wenders has made several but for me this one stands out above all others. My favourite film.


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