A major event as part of the BFI Love Festival there was a screening a screening of the classic German romance Wings Of Desire at several UK cinemas. The lead screening was held at the Paisley Abbey. The film was the centre piece of an evening dedicated to the film and the themes of love, faith and spirituality. I was very fortunate to be in attendance for a film that I had never seen despite owning it on DVD for some time. It was always one that was on the to see list but never made it to the top.
Upon arrival at the Abbey grounds, we were met with a fire garden. This was a splendid display that involved metal flowers spouting fat balls of flame into the night sky. What this had to do with the film was anyone’s guess but it certainly was a spectacle. While waiting to get in there was various stalls selling German food and drink accompanied by a four piece band consisting of drums, accordian, clarinet and Tuba.
After getting seated in the impressive Paisley Abbey the audience is treated to a number of performances. There is music from Tut Vu Vu featuring Hausfrau. The Abbey choristers come in the middle of the performance to provide vocals to some of the pieces and a spoken word stream of consciousness section. The sounds are accompanied by aerial performers on silk and trapeze. Although I didn’t realise at the time, the sounds and visuals have taken their inspiration from the film and the work began to make so much more sense as the film progressed.
So onto the film itself. It is is set in the city of Berlin in the 1980’s, before the wall came down. We follow the angel Damiel (Bruno Ganz) as he and his colleagues move unseen through the city listening to the people as they go about their daily business. Their innermost thoughts are broadcast for the angels to hear. What they try to provide is some level of comfort and try to let them feel they are not alone. Some are receptive to the touch. Others not so much. In the course of his travels, Damiel encounters Marion (Solveig Dommartin), a trapeze artist in a struggling circus. He immediately falls in love with her as he is fascinated with beauty and grace. Damiel has to make a decision to remain an angel or take on earthly form in order to be with Marion.
The film, directed by Wim Wenders, is art house cinema at its finest. The majority of the film is shot in black and white to represent the angels point of view. It presents a sense of detachment from the real world. The added sheen, provide by a silk stocking on the lens only adds to the mood. The few times the city is seen from the point of view of human it is seen in rich colours.
There is little in the way of dialogue in the film. The angels don’t talk to each other as such they appear to communicate via thoughts. Without any tangible on-screen interactions it more of a mood piece. A journey through the lives in the city. It is deceptively slow but it draws you in. Once you are in the flow of the film it is a joy to view.
The focal point of the film is the way Damiel and Marion are opposites. Damiel has the wings and an infinite amount of time to explore the human race. What he wants is to lose it all and become mortal. To see colours, taste coffee and be recognised by others. Marion aspires to the heavens. She swings gracefully on her trapeze with fake wings that she calls chicken feathers. A nod to the fact she is earthbound and even the wings she has are from a flightless bird. Where they are equal is in their needs. Both long for a genuine connection and are willing to do almost anything to find it.
There is a neat sub plot involving Peter Falk who is traveling to Berlin to shoot a film about the Nazis. He appears to be able to feel the presence of angels more than most. There is a touching scene where he s at a coffee stand. He ‘talks’ to Damiel and wants to shake his hand. Falk’s meeting with Damiel is a pivotal moment in the film as it helps make up the angel’s mind on the course of action he has to take.
Overall, an absolutely superb film screened at a very special venue.
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