City Of Angels (1998)
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An angel who falls in love with a mortal woman chooses to become human to be with her.
The story
In Los Angeles, California, Seth is an angel who watches over humans and guides those near death. While performing his duties, he becomes captivated by the spirit of Maggie Rice, a dedicated surgeon. Their connection grows into a mutual attraction, despite her involvement with a colleague. Seeking to experience human life and be with her, Seth seeks guidance from a man who previously chose to give up his immortality. Ultimately, Seth decides to abandon his celestial existence to experience human sensations, leading him to undergo a physical transformation to become mortal and join Maggie in the human world.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
Seth, an angel in Los Angeles, becomes enamored with Maggie Rice, a surgeon. After meeting Nathaniel, a former angel who chose mortality, Seth decides to become human by jumping from a skyscraper. He awakens to physical pain and sensations, eventually finding Maggie at her cabin in Lake Tahoe. They share a romantic connection, but shortly after, Maggie is tragically killed in a bicycle accident. As she dies, she tells Seth she is no longer afraid and identifies him as her 'favorite thing in life.' Alone, Seth is visited by his fellow angel, Cassiel. He eventually finds peace in his new human life, embracing the sensations of the world while acknowledging his choice to leave the celestial realm.
- First release year
- 1998
- Runtime (minutes)
- 114
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Brad Silberling
- Writers
- Dana Stevens · screenplay
- Cast and characters
- Nicolas Cage · Seth; Meg Ryan · Maggie Rice; Dennis Franz · Nathaniel Messinger; Andre Braugher
- Genres
- romantic fantasy
- Themes
- free will; human experience; sacrifice; transcendence
- Tone and mood
- romantic; tragic; sentimental
- Premise and plot tags
- remake; supernatural; romance
- Source material / true-story basis
- Wings of Desire (Der Himmel über Berlin)
- Reception
- The film was a financial success but received mixed reviews, with some critics calling it a mawkish or schmaltzy adaptation of its source material, while others praised the performances and score.
- Awards and nominations
- Grammy Awards · Music from the Motion Picture · 41st · nomination
- Production trivia
- The film is a remake of Wim Wenders's Wings of Desire.; The film is dedicated to producer Dawn Steel, who died before the premiere.; The soundtrack included the hit song 'Iris' by the Goo Goo Dolls.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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