Within the narratives of the films, Wings of Desire and Caché are two very poignant historic events that weigh upon the characters and their lives in a negative way. These events, while very prominent in the history of Germany and France, have been intentionally cast aside by some characters in attempts to live peaceful, ordinary lives. However, the extent of the terror and ruin left behind by such events has continued to haunt them in their daily lives. In Wings Of Desire, we are invited into a world as observed by two angels who are equal humanists, Damiel and Cassiel. They appear from above, and glide through the city landscape, into apartments and through the Berlin library, descending to children on the streets and accident victims… …show more content…
They can rewind back to the war in 1945, to the demolition of the city and the remnants of its impact; burnt chimneys, buildings reduced to rubble and the gloomy grey curtain that veils the city in all its defeat. Its people are grief-stricken, dependant on shelters and food donations. The desperation is to be felt by people of all ages- children are left abandoned and there is little evidence of the tram lines and bus routes that frequented its once bustling centre. The past remains somewhat consistent in their encounters with Berlin throughout. They are forever reminded by their surroundings of the historical events which took place, although easily temporarily deleted from the memories of people. It exists as a ‘parallel world’. The angels which mediate the fragmentary images of present day Berlin are the echoes this tradition sends through the film. The aerial sequences in Wings of Desire are at level with the view of the angels that observe the world from a height. The idea of space in the making of the film is crucial, and has its very own significance. This perspective is in connection with the historical event of World War II, and is a constant reminder of the common perspective of the bombers during the