Der Himmel über Berlin
"There are angels on the streets of Berlin."
Wings of Desire - Characters & Cast
Character Analysis
Damiel
Bruno Ganz
Motivation
A deep yearning for sensory experience, weight, and the ability to participate in the history of the world.
Character Arc
He begins as a weary eternal observer who eventually trades his wings and immortality for the chance to experience the 'now' and find human love.
Cassiel
Otto Sander
Motivation
To 'assemble, testify, and preserve' the reality of human life without interference.
Character Arc
Unlike Damiel, Cassiel remains an angel, though he is deeply pained by the human suffering he witnesses, such as a young man's suicide, which he is powerless to stop.
Marion
Solveig Dommartin
Motivation
To find a connection that transcends her isolation and gives her a story worth living.
Character Arc
A trapeze artist facing the end of her career and intense loneliness, she eventually finds a 'new myth' through her union with Damiel.
Peter Falk
Peter Falk
Motivation
To encourage other angels to 'take the plunge' and enjoy the simple pleasures of being alive.
Character Arc
Playing himself as an actor in Berlin, he is revealed to be a former angel who successfully made the transition to humanity decades ago.