If ever there were a film that could be ruined by a poor description, it is Wings of Desire. The surface explanation involves angels watching over the inhabitants of Berlin. But it is so much more, a hauntingly beautiful, quiet reflection of the very nature of humanity, and the longing of an eternal creature for the temporary moments available only to those who die.

Angels listen in on the thoughts and feelings of humans, and a relentless theme seems to be worry and sadness, the pain of human existence. The angels are unable to interact with humans, which causes distress for Damiel (Bruno Ganz), who finds himself falling in love with a beautiful young trapeze artist, Marion (Solveig Dommartin). Damiel soon grows weary of his role as observer and must make an ultimate decision to join Marion in mortality or continue endlessly as he is.

Throughout the film we are given the same privileges as the angels, a voyeuristic gleaning of thoughts and ideas. A childlike poem opens the film and echoes all along at quiet moments of reflection. Wings of Desire was made in 1987, but director Wim Wenders skillfully blends the past, present, and future together, emphasizing how timeless the angels are, as well as in turn how precisely entrenched in the present moment the people they watch over are. Berlin in 1987 was still a city divided, and 2009 marks the 20-year anniversary of the destruction of the Berlin Wall. Yet in 1987, things were still uncertain and the Cold War continued to haunt the lives of the people of Germany. In an interesting role, Peter Falk appears as himself, working on a holocaust movie within the movie, and we are privy to his thoughts throughout. The film is serene and methodical, black-and-white except for a few shocking bursts of color when an angel is not present in the room, or through the eyes of a human. Wings of Desire gives us a window into the eternal workings of the angelic world, and the small moments of sadness and joy that await us in our daily lives. Mortality is a gift, and it is for us, the living, to revel in it.

The two-disc set is sure to please any Wim Wenders purist, as Wenders himself had a hand in gathering the materials included and declares it the definitive version. The packaging is humbly beautiful, sedate yet dynamic, a simple image of the angel Damiel adorns the cover, but opening the case reveals one of the most beautiful images of the film, Marion swinging high above the city. The audio commentary reveals how quiet Wenders is, softly explaining his decisions and the inception of the idea, how Wings of Desire came about. There are interviews aplenty, as well as a 2003 documentary featuring input from the cinematographer, co-writer, and composer. Also included is a grand array of on-set footage, deleted scenes, and miscellaneous excerpts from films that informed the making of Wings of Desire. The image has been cleaned up and restored to Criterion's high standards and allows the subtlety of the black-and-white imagery to shine.

Longtime readers of my reviews will note my endless devotion to the essay portion of Criterion's releases. There is a great wealth to be mined from films such as this one, and an eloquent essay acknowledges what we have long held to be true: some films deserve to be listened to, explored, and understood with greater depth than others. Some are so beautifully constructed and written that an explanation is due to properly explore all the ideas held within. Michael Atkinson's essay on Wings of Desire is just such a work, for the casual fan who just happens upon the film unexpectedly, or the longtime devotee eager to expand their appreciation. Perhaps that is the real strength of the essay, allowing everyone access to such information, intentionally creating a very fine starting point from which to continue their explorations. A poem by Peter Handke as well as an extensive treatment of the film by Wim Wenders are included as well. In addition to including them in the physical release, Criterion usually makes these essays available on their website, quite generously for free.

The wholly perfect release from Criterion leaves nothing to be desired, and the high level of care and attention to detail is evident throughout. Wings of Desire is ready to be discovered and loved by a whole new generation of film aficionados, from the soaring heights of angelic love to the minute details of daily life.

Wings of Desire is available Nov. 2 from Criterion.

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