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GOETHE FILMS @ TIFF LightboxGOETHE FILMS is presented by the Goethe-Institut at the TIFF Lightbox
Tix sold by Sep. 25!
Wings of Desire (Germany 1987, 128 min)
by Wim Wenders, with Bruno Ganz, Solveig Dommartin, Otto Sander and more
“Sometimes I'm fed up with my spiritual existence. Instead of forever hovering above I'd like to feel a weight grow in me to end the infinity and to tie me to earth.”-Damiel
Wim Wenders’ film tells the story of two angels, Cassiel and Damiel, who were transported to Berlin after an argument in heaven. On earth, the two are only visible to children, but when Damiel falls in love with the trapeze artist Marion, he is driven by the desire to become human. The melancholic romance is set against the backdrop of war-scarred and divided 1980s Berlin. We follow the angels as they listen to the tortured thoughts of the humans and try to comfort them.
“If my grandchildren ever ask me what it was like back in the Cold War, I'll tell them to watch this movie. It is both frighteningly bleak and lyrically beautiful.” - IMDb
18 wins and 14 nominations including the BAFTA Award for Best Film not in the English Language
ABOUT THE DIRECTOR
Wim Wenders was born in 1945 in Düsseldorf, Germany. He is a significant figure in post-war cinema and the German New Wave, which spanned from the 1960s to the 1980s and consisted of experimental techniques and narrative structures. Wenders’s films are known to carry themes of nostalgia, memory, time and identity through an observational approach.
Throughout his career, Wenders has made over thirty five feature films, documentaries, and numerous short films and music videos. His films Alice in the Cities (1974) and Kings of the Road (1976) gained international recognition, showcasing his unique blend of road and driving film aesthetics while exploring human identity. Wenders' contributions have been recognized by numerous awards, including his film Paris, Texas (1984), which won the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival. His artistic vision continues to be an inspiration to young filmmakers who are searching to explore human experiences; he is currently shooting his next film. He has been Oscar nominated for Buena Vista Social Club, Pina; The Salt of the Earth, and Perfect Days.
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In 2024, GOETHE FILMS is celebrating 70 years of German Films, Germany's film marketing agency and a strong partner of the Goethe-Institut worldwide, with this program out of a selection of the best and most successful German films over the past seven decades by German film expert Alfred Holighaus.
This in-cinema program is accompanied and expanded by contemporary films on the topic of Aftermath: Echoes of War on our streaming platform gegenuber.goethe-on-demand.de, available for free in the USA, Canada and Mexico from October 1-November 3, 2024. This online collection of German films shares stories from the last two decades, including more recent post-migrant war experiences, making them highly relevant to our contemporary world. Together, these films tell a wide range of multifaceted human experiences, adding depth and diversity to the program.
Part of series AFTERMATH: ECHOES OF WAR
DETAILS
Language: with English subtitles; viewer discretion is advised
Price: Tickets $10 online as of 25 September! Or day-of at TIFF Lightbox box office in person or by phone 1-888-258-8433.
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Event Venue & Nearby Stays
TIFF, 350 King Street W.,Toronto, Ontario, Canada
