Der Himmel über Berlin



Film still: Wim Wenders
"One day.. It must finally become serious.
I’v often been alone…
but i’v never lived alone.
when I was with someone, I was often happy.
But at the time, it all seemed a coincidence.
These people were my parents.
But it could have been others.
Why was this brown-eyed girl my sister…
and not the green-eyed girl on the opposite of the platform?
The taxi drivers’ son was my friend.
But I might as well have put my arm around a dog’s neck.
I was with a woman…
In Love…
and I might as well have left her there…
and gone off with the stranger I met in the street.
Look at me or don’t.
Give me your hand or don’t.
No.
Don’t give me your hand, and look away.
I think tonight is the new moon.
No night more peaceful.
No bloodshed in all the city.
I’v never played with anyone…
and yet i’v never opened my eyes and thought:
Now it’s serious.
At last it’s becoming serious.
So i’v grown older.
Was I the only one who wasn’t serious?
Is it our times that are not serious?
I was never lonely…
Neither when I was alone, nor with others.
But I would have liked to be alone at last.
Loneliness means i’m finally whole.
Now I can say it..
as tonight I’m at last alone.
I must put an end to coincidence.
The new moon of decision.
I don’t know if there’s destiny…
but theres a decision.
Decide!
We are now the times.
Not only the whole town…
the whole world is taking part in our decision.
We two are now more than us two.
We are Incarnate something.
Were representing the people now…
and the whole place is full of those..
who are dreaming the same dream.
We are deciding everyone’s game.
I am ready.
Now…
Its your turn.
You hold the game in your hand.
Now…
or Never.
You need me.
You will need me.
There is no greater story than ours…
that of man and woman.
It will be a story of giants…
Invisible…
Transposable…
a story of new ancestors.
Look,
My eyes…
they are the picture of necessity…
of the future of everyone in the place.
Last night…
I dreamt of a stranger…
of my woman.
Only with her could I be alone…
Open up to her.
wholly open, wholly for her.
Welcome her wholly into me…
Surrounded by the labyrinth…
of shared happiness.
I know…
It’s you."

M

Wings of Desire/Der Himmel über Berlin

*** (A must-see)
Directed by Wim Wenders
Written by Wenders and Peter Handke
With Bruno Ganz, Solveig Dommartin, Otto Sander, Curt Bois, and Peter Falk.

They all have weary mouths,

bright souls without a seam,

And a yearning (as for sin)

often haunts their dream.

–Rainer Maria Rilke, “The Angels”