Viewed: In theatre
Release Date: August 1, 2008
director: James Marsh
In some respects Man on Wire is a caper film, like The Great Train Robbery, The Italian Job, or Oceans 11: you know they're going to succeed, so it's not the "if" but the "how" that suckers you in. The fact that this film is a documentary, being retold by the participants, mixing photos and reenacted (and treated to look era-"authentic") scenes beneath the voice-overs gives it an interesting edge which both helps and hinders it.
On August 7th, 1974, after years of dreaming and planning, French wire-walker, Philippe Petit strutted out onto a wire secured between the rooftops of the twin towers of the World Trade Centre. Hundreds of feet above the ground, barely visible from the ground, Petit performed for over 40 minutes, and became a celeb-du-jour. The film features a highly animated, excitable, aged Petit recounting the adventures that led him to walk the cable and stare death in the face. As well, his accomplices, including his best friend Jean-Louis Blondeau, his girlfriend Annie Allix, "the Australian", the Americans and others who helped him each revisit their adventures, some with near-equal fervor as Petit, others wistfully, and still others with regret.
Release Date: August 1, 2008
director: James Marsh
In some respects Man on Wire is a caper film, like The Great Train Robbery, The Italian Job, or Oceans 11: you know they're going to succeed, so it's not the "if" but the "how" that suckers you in. The fact that this film is a documentary, being retold by the participants, mixing photos and reenacted (and treated to look era-"authentic") scenes beneath the voice-overs gives it an interesting edge which both helps and hinders it.
On August 7th, 1974, after years of dreaming and planning, French wire-walker, Philippe Petit strutted out onto a wire secured between the rooftops of the twin towers of the World Trade Centre. Hundreds of feet above the ground, barely visible from the ground, Petit performed for over 40 minutes, and became a celeb-du-jour. The film features a highly animated, excitable, aged Petit recounting the adventures that led him to walk the cable and stare death in the face. As well, his accomplices, including his best friend Jean-Louis Blondeau, his girlfriend Annie Allix, "the Australian", the Americans and others who helped him each revisit their adventures, some with near-equal fervor as Petit, others wistfully, and still others with regret.
The tale is an incredibly personal one for Petit, a dream that came to fruition, leading him to a much different life. While for Blondeau and Allix, it was the end of a journey, specifically with Petit. Allix details the events in a stereotypically French manner, as poetry, as art. Blondeau, on the other hand, appears pained reliving the events. There's no joy in it for him, watching his friend tempt fate, only to have him succeed majestically and then lose his friendship forever. It's heartbreaking.
There's wonder in Petit's voice even still, nearly 35 years on, still enjoying immeasurably his accomplishment, still reveling in it; proud as a father or a artist giving birth to something beautiful that the world can embrace. He's a character, straight out, kooky and delightful, charming, the consummate entertainer.
The film, unfortunately suffers slightly under non-linear narrative and editing. It begins with the "team" entering the WTC buildings, and then intercuts Petit's backstory (how his dream came to be, his other feats of daring, his blossoming relationship with Allix) with the ongoing narrative of the events within the tower. In a normal film, with recognizable faces and voices, this type of structure wouldn't be an issue, but when the entire story is being told by multiple narrative voices in reflection, and the faces of the reenactment actors aren't prominently displayed, and names aren't attributed to those faces, it makes for a bit of a confusing scenario. The various players, as well, are introduced in a haphazard fashion. A few, but not all, are introduced in a rather dramatic fashion, even though they are minor players in/retellers of the overall events. It's sloppy.
The film's climax is known ahead of time, but it's still glorious to a degree. Unfortunate, however, that there is no footage of Petit's time on the wire. Back in 1974, photographs, not video, captured the moment, and this film a stark reminder. But the voices, particularly Allix's description of the moment, guide you through, animating the still frames wondrously.
I'll give the production team much credit for blurring the line between reality and reenactment, as the videos often seemed authentic (though I get the sense that there's no actual footage of Petit and co. from the time). It also proved a bit distracting as I tried to verify its authenticity.
Finally, I'm disappointed there was no coda, no details to Petit's life not just after his famous walk, but years later. The film doesn't dare touch upon 9-11, and the tragedy that befell the towers, which may be the reason why we don't see what happens to Petit, but the shadow of their destruction looms large over their inspiring awe. This film is as much a tribute to them as it is to Petit, and in many ways a love story that ends with a happy ending, only everyone knows the pall cast over it.
Rating: 3/5
There's wonder in Petit's voice even still, nearly 35 years on, still enjoying immeasurably his accomplishment, still reveling in it; proud as a father or a artist giving birth to something beautiful that the world can embrace. He's a character, straight out, kooky and delightful, charming, the consummate entertainer.
The film, unfortunately suffers slightly under non-linear narrative and editing. It begins with the "team" entering the WTC buildings, and then intercuts Petit's backstory (how his dream came to be, his other feats of daring, his blossoming relationship with Allix) with the ongoing narrative of the events within the tower. In a normal film, with recognizable faces and voices, this type of structure wouldn't be an issue, but when the entire story is being told by multiple narrative voices in reflection, and the faces of the reenactment actors aren't prominently displayed, and names aren't attributed to those faces, it makes for a bit of a confusing scenario. The various players, as well, are introduced in a haphazard fashion. A few, but not all, are introduced in a rather dramatic fashion, even though they are minor players in/retellers of the overall events. It's sloppy.
The film's climax is known ahead of time, but it's still glorious to a degree. Unfortunate, however, that there is no footage of Petit's time on the wire. Back in 1974, photographs, not video, captured the moment, and this film a stark reminder. But the voices, particularly Allix's description of the moment, guide you through, animating the still frames wondrously.
I'll give the production team much credit for blurring the line between reality and reenactment, as the videos often seemed authentic (though I get the sense that there's no actual footage of Petit and co. from the time). It also proved a bit distracting as I tried to verify its authenticity.
Finally, I'm disappointed there was no coda, no details to Petit's life not just after his famous walk, but years later. The film doesn't dare touch upon 9-11, and the tragedy that befell the towers, which may be the reason why we don't see what happens to Petit, but the shadow of their destruction looms large over their inspiring awe. This film is as much a tribute to them as it is to Petit, and in many ways a love story that ends with a happy ending, only everyone knows the pall cast over it.
Rating: 3/5