now and now and now

paul l and i (having turned down several valentine's day invites from potential lovers) went to the bfi to see the wim wenders film "wings of desire". i first saw it with paul about 12 years ago, and i noticed it was part of their valentine's day programme. it seemed a fitting way to spend the evening.

don't know how many of you have seen the film. it would be easy to dismiss it as a pile of pretentious cr*p (it's filmed in black&white, in german, it consists almost entirely of random fragments of monologue), but i find it incredibly moving. in essence it is about guardian angels, who watch over the lives of people in berlin. they can hear the thoughts and inner lives of the people around them, but what they cannot do is live 'in the moment'. in effect the angels are trapped in eternity. the film reminds me of the intimate, protective and gentle love of god (personified by the angels) as well as the intense joy of living. when one of the angels chooses to join the world of humans (he has fallen in love), he savours every new experience - a cup of coffee, the colour of his own blood, a simple handshake.

joy and joy and joy