One of the coolest feats ever made was done by a man some considered in his day a poster boy for psychiatric evaluation, "Man on Wire" is by far one of the most unique documentaries done in cinema mixing with reenacments as told by the participants with the atmosphere of a heist film.
It tells the story French high wire artist Philippe Petit who in August 7, 1974 performed his highwire act on top of the World Trade Center Towers, the film is narrated by an older Petit decribing his obesssion of conquering the soon to be constructed towers. He never thought one day that he would, Petit an accomplished high wire artist would first cross the 2 bell towers of Notre Dame, then the Sydney Harbour Bridge in Australia.
With his incredible acrobatic skills, experience and his confidence growing he sets his sights on the magnificent towers and makes his plans of crossing it by any means necessary even if it means the cost of his own life. He does painstaking research with the help of his accomplices using fake ID's and a helicopter trip just to survey the towers and devises a plan on how he would smuggle his equipment inside and hang the wires he will need to perform his daredevil act.
He goes so far as to even disguise himself as a French reporter to get more photos and information of the towers, his ambition is not an easy one as there is resistance even in his own camp. His most trusted friend and supporter Jean-Louis Blondea and his then girlfriend Annie Allix fears for his safety but they will not get on his way of accomplishing his dream. For Petit this is the ultimate and turning back is not an option, his will to do it at this very moment in his life is a clear testament of his hunger to accomplish the impossible. The director James Marsh was also able show that the objective is not that impossible, but it will take an extraordinary man to do it.There is no doubt Petit is one of those brave and possibly insane enough to do this feat infusing the film with an essence of a thriller, the first hand accounts of the people involved is told explicitly to show the atmosphere of fear and paranoia for the participants involved and Petit's obsession.
Petit's exhuberance also shows in the moment especially in certain scenes like where he tells of the time when they were almost caught by the policeman hiding under a cloth and staying still for a long time. Also the hide and seek under the shadows which was reenacted to highten the tension for the big moment when history will be made. Through all of this we see and understand Petit's obsession and we find out it is not just one man's ambition that needs to be fulfilled. This is an artist dedicated in conquering what most ordinary people think will be an impossible task and his destiny awaits him. Petit's then girlfriend Annie breaks into tears as she remembers Petit on the wire kneeling, for her it is just not an ordinary high wire act but an artist reaching his goal and enlightening other people spiritually.
The policeman in the scene who arrested Petit and interviewed was not only in awe but understood what this moment meant to other people, this is something that may never happen again which came true after the 9/11 attack. The inspiration for the movie is also not just a man overcoming his obstacles but a tribute and testament of an era gone by. I only wish that someday a real movie could be made about Petit's exploits but with the World Trade Center gone this may never be happen but for now this documentary will do.
Grade: A-
