THE CASE FOR ANGELS

In the Wim Wenders’ movie
Wings of Desire
Angels appear as well dressed
Gentlemen of a certain age.

Not young, on the cusp perhaps
Of middle-age, but not yet
Gone to seed
Spry and kind-hearted.

They infuse those they
Invisibly touch with Hope
For the future and a profound
Thankfulness for the moment.

Wings are a signature accessory
But soon cast aside.
Theirs is a lonely but fulfilling job.
One such aspires to become human.

He meets a fallen angel who has
Happily renounced his angelic identity
And is thus reassured
Of his impending conversion.

Trading eternity for the paltry
Human lifespan he falls in love
And lives happily for what remains
Of his three score years and ten.

Set in a still divided Berlin
Still too, recovering from
The ravages of WWII
It is a deeply affecting film.

The premise is fanciful
But angels have a certain
Credibility that spans millennia
Of human existence.

As brokers who negotiate
Between the sacred and profane
They fulfill a vital role.
Who are we to deny their presence?

  Wings of Desire (1987) has been meticulously
restored in 4K and released by the Criterion
Collection in 2023. It was shown
at The Ojai Playhouse on January 29th. 2026.