Inspired by a poem from Rilke and cowritten by acclaimed Austrian playwright Peter Handke, Wings of Desire follows a pair of angels who descend to earth to eavesdrop on the lonely, melancholy populace in the streets and buildings of pre-unification Berlin. Aided by Alekan’s haunting, mostly monochromatic images, Wenders creates a spiritual documentary of the city and a haunting portrait of what it means to be human. Alekan earned Best Cinematography awards for his work here from the Los Angeles Film Critics Association, the National Society of Film Critics, and the New York Film Critics’ Circle.