Wings of Desire

"First, Ill have a bath. Then Ill be shaved by a Turkish barber who will massage me down to the fingertips. Then Ill buy a newspaper and read it from headlines to horoscope. On the first day, Ill be waited upon... For requests, ask the neighbor. If someone stumbles over my legs, hell have to apologize. Ill be pushed around, and Ill push back. In the crowded bar, the bartender will find me a table. A service car will stop, and the mayor will take me aboard. Ill be known to everyone, and suspect to no one. I wont say a word, and will understand every language. That will be my first day."

"Peter Falk - himself (credited as "Der Filmstar")"

"Longing. Longing for a wave of love that would stir in me. Thats what makes me clumsy. The absence of pleasure. Desire for love. Desire to love."

"To smoke, and have coffee - and if you do it together, its fantastic."

"[in German] Tell me of the men, women, and children who will look for me - me, their storyteller, their bard, their choirmaster - because they need me more than anything in the world. [in French] We have embarked."

"Als das Kind Kind war, ging es mit hängenden Armen, wollte der Bach sei ein Fluß, der Fluß sei ein Strom, und diese Pfütze das Meer. Als das Kind Kind war, wußte es nicht, daß es Kind war, alles war ihm beseelt, und alle Seelen waren eins.Als das Kind Kind war, hatte es von nichts eine Meinung, hatte keine Gewohnheit, saß oft im Schneidersitz, lief aus dem Stand, hatte einen Wirbel im Haar und machte kein Gesicht beim fotografieren."

"Als das Kind Kind war, war es die Zeit der folgenden Fragen: Warum bin ich ich und warum nicht du? Warum bin ich hier und warum nicht dort? Wann begann die Zeit und wo endet der Raum? Ist das Leben unter der Sonne nicht bloß ein Traum? Ist was ich sehe und höre und rieche nicht bloß der Schein einer Welt vor der Welt? Gibt es tatsächlich das Böse und Leute, die wirklich die Bösen sind?Wie kann es sein, daß ich, der ich bin, bevor ich wurde, nicht war, und daß einmal ich, der ich bin, nicht mehr der ich bin, sein werde?"

"Now its serious. At last its becoming serious. So Ive grown older. Was I the only one who wasnt 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 Im finally whole. Now I can say it as tonight, Im at last alone. I must put an end to coincidence. The new moon of decision. I dont know if theres 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 incarnate something. Were representing the people now. And the whole place is full of those who are dreaming the same dream. We are deciding everyones 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. Theres 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 man. Only with him could I be alone, open up to him, wholly open, wholly for him. Welcome him wholly into me. Surround him with the labyrinth of shared happiness. I know... its you."

"What is wrong with peace that its inspiration doesnt endure?"

"Tell me, muse, of the storyteller who has been thrust to the edge of the world, both an infant and an ancient, and through him reveal everyman. With time, those who listened to me became my readers. They no longer sit in a circle, but rather sit apart. And one doesnt know anything about the other. Im an old man with a broken voice, but the tale still rises from the depths, and the mouth, slightly opened, repeats it as clearly, as powerfully. A liturgy for which no one needs to be initiated to the meaning of words and sentences."

"Curt Bois - Homer, the aged poet"

"Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds - themselves"