Byung-Chul Han Goes to the Movies: Phenomenology of Relations with the World in Der Himmel über Berlin (1987)

The purpose of this paper is to show how the film Der Himmel über Berlin allows for a phenomenological reflection on the bonds of human beings with the world. For this purpose, we submit the hypothesis that the thinking of Byung-Chul Han—who has demonstrated a certain interest in this specific film—, functions as a philosophical lens through which such a reading may be advanced. To that end, this paper is composed of three sections: the first section sees Damiel, one of the film’s main characters, as a vehicle to describe the lightness of the world and the angst resulting from not being able to form a bond with the weight of existence. The second section presents Peter Falk as the main trigger that causes Damiel to make the decision to enter the world of mortals and live a life exiled from eternity. Finally, we present Marion, Damiel’s romantic interest, as the main motivation for Damiel to renounce being an angel, as she fulfills the role of an Eros capable of triggering in the individual the vital strength to cause the subject to enter into a bond with the world.