Hi Mara,
Yes, I have seen Wim Wenders classic film, "Wings of Desire". There is also the incredible fantasy photography of the angel in the film standing on a rooftop, with back to the edge of a skyscraper, and huge wing expanse falling below the edge of the building. There were a rash of books on angels in the 90s, some very good -- going through ages of angel folklore. One in my library has this photo from "Wings of Desire". It is breathtaking.
"Wings of Desire" is a subtitled foreign film masterfully done and the subject treated with seriousness and angst. The angel looks with envy on the humans he is sent to help. He wants to eat food. He wants to love a woman. He wants a mortal's physical life. Most of the time we humans take for granted the comfort and warmth of being alive and in life, blood coursing through our veins, in a physical body.
"City of Angels" is the remake, not as well done, but still interesting. It takes place in modern day Los Angeles, and stars Nicholas Cage as the angel and Meg Ryan as the woman he desires. A lot of the film treatment done in "City of Angels" is very good. Nick Cage is a mournful angel who is undeniably attracted to young doctor, Meg Ryan. There are interesting and slightly spooky film tricks done as the angel makes the mortal's acquaintance. "City of Angels" falls just barely short of excitement as the angels are around and about doing their work, dressed in all black, for some reason. An angel's life is made to seem very forlorn and cold, without much emotion as we human's know it.
In both "Wings of Desire" and in "City of Angels" my favorite part is when the angel, "takes the plunge" so to speak, and dies to himself, --to live. This symbolically has a very deep spiritual meaning.
Both films show the deep comfort we have in life to be in our physical bodies, having food and warmth, comfort, and feelings.
Yin and Yang,
Nancy