“A beautiful, literate and romantic piece of cinema.” Ian Nathan, Empire Magazine
“Evokes a mood of reverie, elegy and meditation.” - Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
Wednesday, July 30, 9:00 a.m. | In Wim Wenders’ ethereal masterpiece, the angel Damiel (Bruno Ganz) quietly observes the city of Berlin, listening to the hopes, fears, desires, and dreams of its inhabitants, and offering unseen, silent comfort to the troubled. When he falls in love with lonely trapeze artist Marion, the angel considers (with some guidance from Peter Falk, playing himself) giving up his immortality to be with her. A love letter to Berlin, to cinema, and to love itself, WINGS OF DESIRE brings heartache and longing to spectacular life. At the risk of being hyperbolic, WINGS OF DESIRE has the power to awaken in you a renewed sense of joy for the little things in life and a deep appreciation for the big things. Okay, let’s be hyperbolic: you’ll leave the theater transformed. 4K restoration with 5.1 sound mix provided by the Wim Wenders Foundation and supervised by Wim and Donata Wenders.
Awards & Nominations
Winner - Best Director, Cannes Film Festival
Nominee - Palme d’Or, Cannes Film Festival
Winner - Outstanding Feature Film, German Film Awards
Winner - Best Foreign Film, Film Independent Spirit Awards
Rise & Shine | July 1–30, 2025
Moviegoing is generally reserved for nights and weekends, but when you see a film first thing in the morning, there is a life-changing potentiality. Mere hours after you’ve opened your eyes to the day, the Film Center invites you to open your eyes in an entirely different way with a morning screening of soul-altering cinema. Bright-eyed and bushy-tailed—scientists say we’re most alert around 9:00 a.m.—play the slightest bit of hooky with us, after which you will emerge onto the hustle and bustle of State Street feeling energized, maybe even with your humanity restored, and all before lunchtime! Rise & Shine generously supported by Taylor Champion.
As a bonus, enjoy complimentary coffee included with your ticket, courtesy of Dark Matter Coffee; and get 10% off your order at any Goddess and the Baker location in the city when you show your Rise & Shine ticket July 1 through 30. What a way to start the day!
The Film Center is ADA accessible. This presentation will be projected without open captions. The theater is hearing-loop equipped. For accessibility requests, please email filmcenter@saic.edu