Intellect

Authors:  Thomas Martinec 
DOI: 10.1386/seci.6.2-3.165/1

Keywords
adaptation of literature, adaptation of poetry, spontaneity, poetic coherence, describing the invisible, sound of language

Abstract
While Wenders adapted a whole series of literary narratives to the screen, Wings of Desire features the extraordinary attempt to base a film upon poetic texts (provided by Rainer Maria Rilke and Peter Handke). An analysis of the film's production and of the various aesthetic means employed by the director, as well as a discussion of Wenders' concern for some issues that are related to the poetic discourse, will help to identify an agenda that is firmly rooted in the realm of poetry rather than of narration. Thus previous investigations of Wings of Desire, which tend to focus on narrative aspects, are supplemented by a reading that focuses on features not to be addressed by means of narratology, such as the concern for the audible quality of language. Accordingly, Wings of Desire will be seen as an attempt to ‘speak’ the language of poetry onscreen.