I watched this movie the first time about 10 years ago and I was deeply touched. It's a celebration of all that is good about us human beings in a world that fails to choose what is good out of fear and because of past disappointments.The fact that an angel returns to earth to continue to grow is a symbolism of an ennobling idea that humanity never ends, not even after death, and that progression doesn't end, even after death.If nothing else, this movie should be a motivating factor to look at what's good. At best, it encourages us to be and do good because of the potential rewards that transcend this life.

It's difficult to make a sequel as good as the original. If it's done in the same style, it becomes a poor shadow. Here, Wim Wenders has made something different than in "Wings of Desire:" what I consider a comedy of a misfit ex-angel, to counter the desire of an angel to become human in the other film.Near the end of the other movie, we saw one of the angels, Damiel, become human for the love of a beautiful trapeze artist. In this film, we see the other angel, Cassiel, become human by accident as he wanted to help people. As much as he wanted to fit in with our world, the more he tried to do good, the worse trouble actually made of things. He often quotes the Lou Reed song he heard: "Why can't I be good, make something of this life?"There is a cameo appearance of a world leader, when Mikhail Gorbachev (filmed the summer after resigning as Soviet president) ponders the age-old question about the meaning and purpose of life; or two leaders if counting that the guard dog's name is Khadafy. There are jokes about getting lost between East and West, since the Wall no longer was there as a landmark. But there is the serious side at the beginning, of the war and the Nazi past, which is a little hard to follow. I almost forgot about it as I got caught up in the humor of the fallen angel, but even that had the darker side of an evil angel who was leading him astray. Yet the ending tied everything together nicely.Like "Wings of Desire," there are nice transitions between black and white, which is how the angels see the world, and color, for how humans see things. There is also a poem started at the beginning, about humans being everything to the angels, when Cassiel looks down from the statue to "you whom we love." The angels are just the "messengers who bring light to those in darkness." The poem is repeated at the ending, adding that the message is love.The angels lament that humans can only believe what they can see and touch. The Wall fell, the tangible symbol of the division between East and West, yet still one driver whose thoughts we heard couldn't see what the difference was between the two areas; freedom can't be seen or touched. Love, the angels message, can be neither seen nor touched, yet that, and not "blood and steel" (as said the Russian poet and diplomat that Gorbachev quotes), is what is needed for there to be peace.

I didn't love "Far Away,So Close!"like"wings of desire" but some of the concept of the previous film is still there.The city is Berlin after the wall collapsed but the people seem still divided.Casiel(OttoSander) became human accidentally and he really does not belong in this city,this segment of the film is well made but i did not liked others aspects of FASC,Wenders seems disoriented because he want to tell so many stories at the same time that he only achieves in prolonging the movie. I liked when Cassiel is in company with Raphaela(Nastassja Kinski in her most ethereal role)and how they communicate each other through telepathy.Wings of desire focused on Damiel,FASC on Cassiel,the next time(to end the trilogy?)should focus on the beautiful and enigmatic Raphaela,But "Far Away so Close!"is still a worth film to watch.

This is a truly unique film. It was shot beautifully. The actors, music, location et.al. was superbly well chosen. This film is pure poetry in motion, language, acting, script, etc. It has the uniqueness of providing an incredibly positive view/side of the fact of being a human being. I have made all the people I know, watch it and everybody seems to agree with me. Thank you, Mr. Wenders for giving us a beautiful and meaningful film, that outshines most by the mere insinuation that life is beautiful. It is a job well done. Thank you, again. Joanne Tijerino