Slog - Comments on That Silence http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/08/that_silence It is nearly impossible to surpass the cinematic splendor of the first 15 minutes of Der Himmel über Berlin: Wender's angels fly over Berlin, glide through apartment buildings, enter jet planes approaching Berlin, exit cars rushing in and around the city streets. And when an angel nears a person, we hear their thoughts: This person is thinking about his father, that person is thinking about his girl; this one about tomorrow, the other one about yesterday. The movie dies when the angels stop flying and gliding. The death of the film is caused by the start of the narrative--the story... Copyright 2008 Mon, 06 Aug 2007 14:10:36 -0800 Thu, 16 Aug 2007 02:08:32 -0800 http://www.movabletype.org/?v=3.34 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Comment by NaFun Yeah! Angels are stupid!

]]> NaFun http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/08/that_silence#c775886 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/08/that_silence#c775886 Arts Mon, 06 Aug 2007 14:26:09 -0800 Comment by The Baron The arab is probably a muslim. It has been thoroughly established that hating on muslims isn't racism.

]]> The Baron http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/08/that_silence#c775898 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/08/that_silence#c775898 Arts Mon, 06 Aug 2007 14:32:30 -0800 Comment by mj I have no idea why but this post struck me as hysterical. ( in a good way)

]]> mj http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/08/that_silence#c775899 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/08/that_silence#c775899 Arts Mon, 06 Aug 2007 14:32:35 -0800 Comment by Will in Seattle This started out good. Then it went south. Into Austria.

]]> Will in Seattle http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/08/that_silence#c775903 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/08/that_silence#c775903 Arts Mon, 06 Aug 2007 14:35:49 -0800 Comment by MvB Or perhaps Wenders is making a comment about a class of people being silenced.

As a side note: "On a trip to Europe, [Mohsen] Makhmalbaf was so deeply moved by Wim Wenders’ Wings of Desire that he made blasphemous remarks on his return to Iran. “If God must send a new prophet, his name will be Wim Wenders,” he declared."

]]> MvB http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/08/that_silence#c775915 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/08/that_silence#c775915 Arts Mon, 06 Aug 2007 14:47:28 -0800 Comment by monkey Maybe the arab was so at peace that she was able to clear her mind in silent meditation.

]]> monkey http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/08/that_silence#c775926 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/08/that_silence#c775926 Arts Mon, 06 Aug 2007 14:54:49 -0800 Comment by Ryan Damn. Every time he has an up, he falls... like an angel who lost his/her wings. Urg. That hurt to type.

]]> Ryan http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/08/that_silence#c775947 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/08/that_silence#c775947 Arts Mon, 06 Aug 2007 15:18:36 -0800 Comment by switzerblog You should place this in its context, Charles. Not today. 1987. What was the "Arab" population in Berlin in 1987? Is this even relevant to the scene? And left out in your post - is this woman the only person whose thoughts are not heard? Does the angel hear each thought in a passing bus? Is it possible it was not the Arab that had no thoughts, but the woman? Perhaps another sort of silence that doesn't resonate in your own heavily biased head? Does this filmmaker have a responsibility to provide voice for all Arabs? Why?

Ahhhhh...back to Mudede being Mudede. It's like having oxygen after drowning.

]]> switzerblog http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/08/that_silence#c775952 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/08/that_silence#c775952 Arts Mon, 06 Aug 2007 15:22:56 -0800 Comment by n What was the "Arab" population in Berlin in 1987?

I don't know, but I do know the people in that scene were Turks---so not at all Arab.

I also recall them having lines---something about sticking your head out the window.

]]> n http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/08/that_silence#c776005 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/08/that_silence#c776005 Arts Mon, 06 Aug 2007 16:11:02 -0800 Comment by demolator Yes, the movie died as soon as the narrative began.

This post offers a lot of insight into the screenplay for "Police Beat."

]]> demolator http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/08/that_silence#c776019 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/08/that_silence#c776019 Arts Mon, 06 Aug 2007 16:32:32 -0800 Comment by Will in Seattle @9 - so you mean they're as Arab as the Iranians are? as in, not at all?

]]> Will in Seattle http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/08/that_silence#c776034 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/08/that_silence#c776034 Arts Mon, 06 Aug 2007 16:41:48 -0800 Comment by steph Why SHOULD the angel be able to hear the arab woman's thoughts? She's talking to a different god, after all...

]]> steph http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/08/that_silence#c776035 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/08/that_silence#c776035 Arts Mon, 06 Aug 2007 16:42:47 -0800 Comment by Roger Williams I expected a greater degree of cultural literacy from Charles Mudede when it comes to spotting literary references in wankfest German art films.

The strangely blank Arab is a reference to Camus' The Stranger - the book that at least shares a title with this newspaper.

]]> Roger Williams http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/08/that_silence#c776263 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/08/that_silence#c776263 Arts Tue, 07 Aug 2007 00:43:50 -0800 Comment by Bellevue Ave Fuck Chaz and his awful analysis of anything. Either stop smoking weed so you can put together a coherent thought or start smoking more weed so you're at least funny. Your inability to be insightful or funny is pathetic and a disservice to reading audiences everywhere.

]]> Bellevue Ave http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/08/that_silence#c776274 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/08/that_silence#c776274 Arts Tue, 07 Aug 2007 01:55:25 -0800 Comment by iheartbeer I am not even going to address the Arab comment, plenty of others have and have addressed it well.

What I don't understand is how do you believe that the film die when the narrative begins? The scenes in the club with Nick Cave are some of the most sensual minutes ever caught on film. The Berlin Wall, the extra people, Peter Faulk, come on! This film is humorous, life affirming, beautiful and sad and in no way worse off for the narrative.

]]> iheartbeer http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/08/that_silence#c776329 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/08/that_silence#c776329 Arts Tue, 07 Aug 2007 06:54:32 -0800 Comment by nxbv igmjw bktl lumpio fecids aleqxmd vezwkou jmixncklf rvqlgebot

]]> nxbv igmjw http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/08/that_silence#c784421 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/08/that_silence#c784421 Arts Thu, 16 Aug 2007 02:07:51 -0800 Comment by zclg fgta qjsw pelohugfz medqibs ctihn ywmdq exgtl szhatbok fouyltbaw ysxw

]]> zclg fgta http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/08/that_silence#c784424 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/08/that_silence#c784424 Arts Thu, 16 Aug 2007 02:08:32 -0800