Angels
Four days hence Barack Obama will will give his big Berlin speech in Tiergarten Park (German for "animal garden"), beneath the monument topped with the big golden angel known as the Victory Column. Some say the site has an unpleasant association with military aggression. But for most of us it means Wim Wenders' Wings of Desire ('87), and particularly those two middle-aged angels, Bruno Ganz and Otto Sander, standing atop the tower and vibing out. Which, for me, makes it a place of dreams, reflection, longing, compassion.
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Posted by Jeffrey Wells on July 20, 2008 at 2:42 PM
comment #1
The Hoyk says ...
Were there any movies in the late '80's as immensely beautiful as this? And any women as mesmerizing as Solveig Dommartin, who is sorely missed?
Posted by The Hoyk at July 20, 2008 4:22 PM
comment #2
Mgmax says ...
At the end of his speech, do you think Obama will choose to become mortal?
Posted by Mgmax at July 20, 2008 5:47 PM
comment #3
corey3rd says ...
Obama is securing his Art House cred. When he returns to America, he'll head to Red Bank to get a coffee at the Quick Stop.
Posted by corey3rd at July 20, 2008 5:55 PM
comment #4
shawn says ...
"The Dark Knight" specifically references the opening of "Wings of Desire" when Batman is standing on the topmost ledge of a building about 2/3rds of the way into the picture listening to cell phone chatter to take the pulse of the city.
"Wings of Desire" isn't a perfect movie, but sometimes I think it's the only one worth showing to people 200 years from now for them to understand why they should give a shit about us.
Posted by shawn at July 20, 2008 8:20 PM
comment #5
lazespud says ...
I assume when you say "for most of us" you mean us film snoots on your web site... yup, the victory column, or more accurately the statue on the top, entirely brings to mind Wings of Desire.
If you have a chance to see the tower up close, you see how it's made up of lots and lots of cannons mounted vertically up the outside of the tower in a kind of wall. The inside has stairs to the top, and in the internal walls are covered with graffiiti; I remember one of the few English pieces saying "Fuck Teachers!"
Posted by lazespud at July 21, 2008 1:34 AM