Faraway, So Close! Movie Review 1993

Wenders' erratic follow-up to his magnificent "Wings of Desire." Cassiel (Sander), the angel left behind when Damiel (Ganz) chose to become human, once again surveys Berlin, noticing the changes (not necessarily for the better). Angelic companion Raphaela (Kinski) watches events passively, including an old man's (Ruhamnn) reflections on life and the philosophical musings of Emit Flesti (Dafoe, Time Itself, get it?), even as Cassiel impulsively chooses humanity over his heavenly world. Falk makes a return appearance to little effect. Overlong and under-developed.

Distribution

Sony Pictures Home Video, Sony Pictures Plz., 10202 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, CA 90232, Phone: (310)244-7306, Fax: (310)280-2485, URL: http://www.spe.sony.com, Remarks: Formerly Columbia Tristar Home Entertainment

Available on VHS, DVD
Running time 146 minutes.
Originally from German.

Cast and Crew

Genres

Fantasy, Big Ideas, Angels, Germany, Berlin

Screenplay

Ulrich Zieger, Richard Reitinger, Wim Wenders

Cast

Otto Sander, Peter Falk, Horst Buchholz, Nastassja Kinski, Heinz Ruhmann, Bruno Ganz, Solveig Dommartin, Ruediger Vogler, Willem Dafoe, Lou Reed

Cinematography

Jurgen Jurges

Director

Wim Wenders

Music

David Darling, Laurent Petitgrand

Producer

Wim Wenders, Ulrich Felsberg, Sony Pictures Classics

Awards

Cannes 1993: Grand Jury Prize.