Faraway, So Close!

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Faraway, So Close! ★★ In Weiter Ferne, So Nah! 1993 (PG-13)

Wenders' erratic followup 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 underdeveloped. 146m/C VHS, DVD . GE Otto Sander, Peter Falk, Horst Buchholz, Nastassja Kinski, Heinz Ruhmann, Bruno Ganz, Solveig Dommartin, Ruediger Vogler, Willem Dafoe, Lou Reed; D: Wim Wenders; W: Ulrich Zieger, Richard Reitinger, Wim Wenders; C: Jurgen Jurges; M: David Darling, Laurent Petitgand. Cannes '93: Grand Jury Prize.