Filmmaker James Marsh’s (“The King”) brilliant love letter to the late World Trade Center transcends the cruel fate of the twin towers.
When daredevil tightrope walker Philippe Petit wire-walked between Manhattan’s World Trade Towers on August 7, 1974, his ambitious stunt imbued the buildings with emotion, humor, and a human scale that honors their place in Manhattan as no memorial ever could.
Part biography and part suspense thriller, “Man on Wire” is a docudrama that seamlessly unites archive footage with reenactments and interviews to give the viewer a multi-dimensional grasp of the enormous ensemble effort that allowed Philippe to perform for 45 amazing minutes, 1,350 feet over New York’s dazzling skyline.
The film traces the moment, in a doctor’s office, when a 15-year-old Philippe Petit first read about the towers before they were built. From that moment, the skilled wire-walking street performer became obsessed with realizing his dream. With the help of close friends and some very knowledgeable associates, the crew set about penetrating the WTC’s security with the methodical precision of professional bank robbers to prepare the steel cable and rigging equipment needed for the task.
No amount of description can transmit the passion and joy in this wonderful picture, as accompanied with a lyrical musical score by composer Michael Myman. Here is a documentary that feels like a feature film. See this movie. Once isn’t enough.
Not Rated. 102 mins.
