Series/Themes: Historical Themes

Genre: Classics, International

Film Year: 1987

Locations: West Germany/France

Film Length: 128 min.

Director: Wim Wenders

Featuring: Bruno Ganz, Solveig Dommartin, Otto Sander

The sky over war-scarred Berlin is full of gentle, trenchcoated angels who listen to the tortured thoughts of mortals and try to comfort them. One, Damiel, wishes to become mortal after falling in love with a beautiful trapeze artist, Marion. Told from the angel’s point of view, the film is shot in black and white, blossoming into color only when the angels perceive the realities of humankind. Widely acclaimed from famed German director Wim Wenders comes the visually entrancing film that earned Best Director when it screened at the 1987 Cannes Film Festival. Introduction by Jeffrey Grossman (U.Va.)