Man On Wire (2008)

4.0

DOCUMENTARY
U.S. Release Date: 08/01/08
Running Length: 94 Minutes
MPAA Classification: PG-13 (Sexual Situations, Drugs, Nudity)
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1

Cast: Philippe Petit
Director: James Marsh
Cinematography: Igor Martinovic
Music: J. Ralph
U.S. Distributor: Magnolia Pictures

Review by: Carter Moulton

01/03/09

On August 7th 1974, Philippe Petit walked on air. After years of dreaming and planning, he stepped out onto an overcast morning sky, 1,400 feet above the ground. Supported by a wire as wide as your index finger, he casually strolled in-between the World Trade Center buildings for forty-five minutes. During this time, he crossed back and forth eight times. He knelt down and saluted his spectators in the streets below. He rested on his back and “dialogued” with a passing seagull. All at once science-fiction, thriller, and symphony, Petit’s feat is a testament to the power of human concentration and determination.

Photo © Magnolia Pictures

It’s not hard to see why filmmaker James Marsh wanted to turn such a remarkable character into a documentary. His story is dreamlike—and fortunately, Marsh takes advantage of this in his direction. He inserts humor, magic and suspense when needed, but never lets his technique overwhelm the power of Petit’s achievement. The image of Petit walking in the clouds is more than enough to merit a retelling, but Marsh makes sure to create a picture that redefines the word "escapism." Man On Wire provides more wonderment and suspense than any fiction film ever could. It’s truly a surreal experience to, at the same time, know that this actually happened, and to behold it’s visual impossibility.

Philippe Petit tells many of his experiences directly, which is a smart approach because it adds depth to his energetic persona. The story begins on the streets of Paris with unicycles, streetlights, and top hats (quite a magical way to start a documentary). All of the people who helped Petit perform the World Trade Center miracle are introduced and interviewed. Their stories are equally entertaining. They all seem to remember distinctive moments from the preperation and execution Petit's plan to illegally suspend gravity. Many of these stories are humorous, which keep the film from becoming boring. Early on, we see Petit walk the Sydney Harbor Bridge, and Notre Dame de Paris. Films could be made of these accomplishments, but here they serve as appetizers to Petit’s almost lustful dream: “conquering” the Twin Towers.

The footage of Petit that is shown seems somewhere between fiction and reality, thanks to Marsh’s use of fluctuating frame-rates and visual effects. The footage plays out so perfectly that it took me sometime to realize that they weren’t reenactments. This fantastical reality is the beauty of Man On Wire: the reassurance that there is magic in this world, and that we as humans can create it out of thin-air if we have a dream and a drive. It was unreal to discover that the greatest fairy-tale I had ever seen was a work of non-fiction. I ended up leaving the film feeling refreshed. Man On Wire is easily among the best films of the year.