History Film / WingsOfDesire

* FriendToAllChildren: The angels, who can only be seen by children for the most part, have several scenes where they act pleasantly and respectfully towards children.

Creator/BrunoGanz, who plays Damiel, would explore the other extreme of the good-to-evil spectrum a quarter-century later when he played UsefulNotes/AdolfHitler in ''Film/{{Downfall}}''. Curt Bois, who plays the elderly storyteller, was the pickpocket ("vultures, vultures everywhere") in ''Film/{{Casablanca}}''.

* ByTheEyesOfTheBlind: Usually it's children, but Damiel says that a blind woman sensed his presence and was moved to adjust her watch.

* ChildrenAreSpecial: For the most part it's only children who can see the angels.

* SpookySilentLibrary: A low key example. After closing time at the library, several angels are seen resting silently (most looking sad and exhausted) as the cleaning staff, oblivious to their presence, work in their midst.

* SpookySilentLibrary: A low key example. After closing time at the library, several angels are seen resting silently (most looking sad and exhausted)as the cleaning staff, oblivious to their presence, work in their midst.

* FirstTimeFeeling: Damiel's euphoria when he finally has human senses, particularly sight. One of the first things he does is buy a very bright red and blue jacket at a second hand store.

* MyLifeFlashedBeforeMyEyes: The dying motorcyclist goes through his happiest memories and impressions (with some help from Cassiel).

* FirstTimeFeeling: Damiel's euphoria when he finally has human senses, particularly sight. One of the first things he does is buy a bright red jacket at a second hand store.
* FrenchAccordion: It's a French circus and at one point an accordion player is consoling Marion with his instrument.

* ExpectingSomeoneTaller: When Damiel faces Peter Falk in human form, the latter notes that he expected a toller man.

* HappyCircusMusic: Played at the children's matinee performance; particularly poignant given that the performers have just learnt that this will be the circus will be closing for good the following day.

* RummageSaleReject: Damiel's clothing choice after he gets humanized.

* PinocchioSyndrome: Both angels at the beginning discuss how they'd like to be human for a change. [[spoiler: One of them has his wish come true.]]

* AngelicTransformation: Angels can literally fall from grace to become human. The main character wishes to do this out of love for a mortal.

** Peter Falk as himself--he's even called "Series/{{Columbo}}"--an American actor filming a movie in Berlin. He's eventually revealed to be a former angel.

* ColorMotif: It eventually becomes clear that events shown from the perspective of the angels are DeliberatelyMonochrome while scenes not from their perspective are the ones in color. This is illustrated by a scene in Marion's trailer that shifts from black and white to color after Damiel leaves. Moments after Damiel takes human form, he buttonholes a random passerby to find out what all the colors are called.

* PinocchioSyndrome: Both angels at the beginning discuss how they'd like to be human for a change; one of them has his wish come true.

* SomethingOnlyTheyWouldSay: Peter Falk can't see Damiel but senses him, and greets him, calling him "compañero". When Damiel takes human form, he makes himself known to Falk by hailing him with that word.

* SceneryPorn: Indeed Berlin is the true protagonist.

* ChildrenAreSpecial: Only children can see the angels (although a few adults can sense their presence).

* InvisibleToAdults: The angels.

* InstantSelfContradiction: Before his last song, Nick Cave promises himself that he is not telling the audience about a girl. Cue him announcing the song being about a girl.

!!This film provides example of:

* ArcWords: The [[http://www.wim-wenders.com/movies/movies_spec/wingsofdesire/wod-song-of-childhood-german.htm "Lied von Kindsein"]], with its repetitive structure, appears throughout the movie.

** One scene smoothly transitions from a stock footage clip of a bombed out 1945 Berlin street to a clean, modern 1986 street. (Maybe the same one?)

* LadyInRed: Marion when eventually meets Damiel as a human wears a lavish red dress.

* DrivenToSuicide: A young man jumps off a roof to his death, too quickly for Cassiel to influence his thoughts and save him.