Der Himmel über Berlin

This year’s International May Festival features the latest work by Peter Handke, in its original staging: “Die Unschuldigen, ich und die Unbekannte am Rand der Landstraße” is a cheerfully melancholic reflection on losing one’s grasp on life, as seen through the eyes of an “I”-observer. Wim Wender’s spiritual road movie, “Der Himmel über Berlin” (meaning “The Sky/Heaven over Berlin”, but known in English as “Wings of Desire”), is an example of Handke’s earlier work.  The screenplay language is intellectual and poetic, and also features a type of “life observer” central character: Damiel, an invisible, immortal angel is tasked with listening to the thoughts of the human inhabitants of Berlin and to comfort those who are in distress. He falls in love with a beautiful, lonely trapeze artist, and chooses to become human in order to get closer to her.

Berliner Ensemble & Burgtheater Wien
Berlin & Wien | Germany & Austria
Die Unschuldigen, ich und die Unbekannte am Rand der Landstraße
The Innocent, Me and the Unknown Woman by the Side of the Road
by Peter Handke
Performed in German
World premiere: February 2016 at the Burgtheater in Vienna
In cooperation with the Berliner Ensemble