Rent Wings of Desire (1987)

3.6 of 5 from 253 ratings
2h 2min
Rent Wings of Desire (aka Der Himmel über Berlin / The Sky Above Berlin / The Sky Over Berlin) Online DVD & Blu-ray Rental
  • General info
  • Available formats
Synopsis:
The sky over Wenders' war-scarred Berlin is full of gentle, trenchcoated angels who listen to the tortured thoughts of mortals and try to comfort them. One, Damiel, (Bruno Ganz) wishes to become mortal after falling in love with a beautiful trapeze artist, Marion (Solveig Dommartin). Peter Falk, as himself, assists in the transformation by explaining the simple joys of a human experience.
Actors:
, , , , , , Elmar Wilms, , , , Bruno Rosaz, Laurent Petitgand, , , , , Susanne Vierkötter, , Karin Busch, Irene Moessinger
Directors:
Producers:
Anatole Dauman, Wim Wenders
Writers:
Wim Wenders, Peter Handke, Richard Reitinger, Bernard Eisenschitz
Others:
Anatole Dauman
Aka:
Der Himmel über Berlin / The Sky Above Berlin / The Sky Over Berlin
Studio:
Anchor Bay
Genres:
Classics, Drama, Romance, Sci-Fi & Fantasy
Collections:
10 Films to Watch if You Like: The Bishop's Wife, Films to Watch if You Like It's a Wonderful Life, Films to Watch If You Like..., New waves of Latin American Cinema, The Instant Expert's Guide, The Instant Expert's Guide to: Wim Wenders, Top 10 European Remakes, Top Films, What to watch by country
Countries:
Germany
Awards:

1987 Cannes Best Director

BBFC:
Release Date:
28/07/2008
Run Time:
122 minutes
Languages:
English Dolby Digital 5.1, German
Subtitles:
English
DVD Regions:
Region 2
Formats:
Pal
Aspect Ratio:
Full Screen 1.37:1
Colour:
Colour
Bonus:
  • Deleted scenes
  • Cast and crew biographies
  • English commentary by Wim Wenders
  • Trailer
  • Photo gallery
  • Curt Bois trailer
  • Wim Wenders biography
BBFC:
Release Date:
22/02/2010
Run Time:
128 minutes
Languages:
German DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
Subtitles:
English
DVD Regions:
Region 2
Formats:
Pal
Aspect Ratio:
Widescreen 1.66:1
Colour:
Colour and B & W
Bonus:
  • Feature-length commentary with Wim Wenders and Peter Falk
  • Outtakes and deleted scenes with commentary
  • Conversations on Wings of desire
  • Trailer
BBFC:
Release Date:
12/12/2022
Run Time:
128 minutes
Languages:
English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1, English LPCM Stereo, French DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1, French LPCM Stereo, German DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1, German LPCM Stereo
Subtitles:
English
DVD Regions:
Region 2
Formats:
Pal
Aspect Ratio:
Widescreen 1.66:1
Colour:
Colour and B & W
BLU-RAY Regions:
B
Bonus:
  • Featurette In Conversation with Wim Wenders at the BFI (2022)
  • Deleted Scenes
  • Audio Commentary with Wim Wenders and Peter Falk
  • Wim Wenders Lecture, Featurette Helicopter Over Berlin
  • German and English trailers edited by Wim Wenders
  • Curzon Retrospective Trailer

More like Wings of Desire

Reviews (5) of Wings of Desire

Very personal and original art film. - Wings of Desire review by Steve

Spoiler Alert
28/06/2012

Wender's unique lyrical poem to human spirituality and the experience of being alive, in a wonderful black and white Berlin.

4 out of 5 members found this review helpful.

Wenders Beautiful Adaptation of Postwar Berlin - Wings of Desire review by Oli

Spoiler Alert
01/04/2018

I've got to 2nd Steves review on this because it is such a wonderful film, not just for German cinema but for all cinema, going into this I'd seen Paris, Texas by Wim Wenders so I had an idea of his brilliance when adapting characters to a big story and creating lots of unique atmosphere, cinematography etc. but this just blew me away! The film starts in black and white as Ganz and Sander playing 2 Angels hovering over a postwar Berlin which looks to be a mixture of many things, certain things to come to mind from this like the bleakness of Berlin and the brilliant dialogue particulary with Ganz accompanying an old man who describes a world forgotten. We are entranced through many memorable shots of postwar Berlin and many civilian thoughts which could probably reflect thoughts of people the viewer knows, accompanied as usual by Wenders by a brilliant soundtrack that perfectly reflects the feeling of the film, the emotion of living here but yet the beauty of it all. Ganzs angel desperately wants to break free from being an angel and feel what the people are feeling having experienced most of it 3rd person, but not 1st person. It'd probably be pointless ruining any more of the film for newcomers but watch it and be amazed by one of cinemas many unique cinematic experiences.

2 out of 3 members found this review helpful.

Extraordinary film; a sensitive if existential reflection on what it means to be alive - Wings of Desire review by tm

Spoiler Alert
19/01/2021

mostly in black and white, in German French and English with a tiny cast of mesmerising and memorable characters drifting in and out of focus of an ethereal observe who himself desperately wants to be involved.

what is it to be vulnerable?

what is it to really allow yourself to feel?

is the joy worth the pain?

do we dare?

these are the questions asked by one of the most moving films I have ever seen.

if you like sitting on a deserted beach, staring out to sea, alone and quietly, then this is the film for you.

warning:

I suspect you do have to be in the mood for this film which, on a rushed day or squeezed in between events on a cold night, might seem a challenge to ones patience.

2 out of 2 members found this review helpful.

Unlimited films sent to your door, starting at £15.99 a month.