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In Wim Wender’s 1987 motion picture Der Himmel über Berlin actor Peter Falk (1927–2011) has a supporting role playing himself. The Peter Falk of the movie used to be an angel, but we meet him some time after he has become human, having handed in his wings and immortality in exchange for the ability to smell, taste, and touch just like humans do. Falk is captivated by his new gained ability to sense, and walks around in a sort of understated ecstasy, taking full pleasure in the little things. In one scene, as he addresses another angel he can feel is there but he cannot see, he explains what he finds so beautiful about being alive:

“I wish I could see your face. Just look into your eyes and tell you how good it is to be here. Just to touch something … see, that’s cold,” he explains, touching the metal counter at the currywurst booth where they’re standing. He grabs his pack of cigarettes from the counter: “Or, uh, here … to smoke. Have coffee. And if you do it together, it’s fantastic. Or … to draw.” Falk holds up a notebook he’s been sketching in, and makes a line on one of the pages with a pencil, then another one: “You know, you take a pencil and you make a dark line, then you make a light line … and together it’s a good line.”

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Peter Falk in Wim Wender’s Der Himmel über Berlin (1987) demonstrates how to draw a line and simultaneously touches on the pleasure of being alive.

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