Film Reviews

Man On Wire

• Rating:
• Director: James Marsh.
• Starring: Phillipe Petit.
• Details: UK / 90mins (12A).

Hastily they push some equipment into the back of the van and pile in. Anxious glances abound as the guys in the back fix their disguises and make sure their fake I.Ds are visible. Years of meticulous preparation have gone into today: their one and final chance to pull of 'le coup' and it shows on their faces. They reach their destination, the doors swing open and... No, this isn't a bank heist thriller; this is a documentary on Phillipe Petit, the air-walker who in 1974 walked a tightrope across the Twin Towers, then the tallest buildings in the world. Director James Marsh's (The King) documentary is so engaging, however, it could be mistaken for a Hollywood actioner. It has all the ingredients - a man with a dream, an impossible mission, dangerous obstacles, engaging characters and a love story. Petit always dreamed of doing the walk and not even his perilous Notre Dame and Sydney Harbour Bridge air walks in the early 70s could satisfy his lust for conquering the World Trade Centre. Marsh explores the fears of the crew: not only do they have to worry about getting into the towers and past security, they have to worry about nature's great variable - the weather - and of course being accused of assisted suicide and involuntary manslaughter should Petit fall. With everything in place and after hiding from the guards for hours and finally managing to secure the rope, a quarter of a mile and 110 floors up, Petit takes his first tentative steps out into the void... It could be argued that the inclusion of Petit here takes away from the tension, the danger that he'll fall to his death, but then we wouldn't have his energetic interviews and, even through broken English, a sometimes beautiful turn of phrase. With movies becoming more and more fantastic with each passing year, it would take a special documentary to compete and that's what Man On Wire is, special.

Review by Gavin Burke