Man on Wire
2008 · 94 min · Documentary
Directed by James Marsh
“1974. 1350 feet up. The artistic crime of the century.”
On August 7th 1974, French tightrope walker Philippe Petit stepped out on a high wire, illegally rigged between New York's World Trade Center twin towers, then the world's tallest buildings. After nearly an hour of performing on the wire, 1,350 feet above the sidewalks of Manhattan, he was arrested. This fun and spellbinding documentary chronicles Philippe Petit's "highest" achievement.
Why it's worth watching
Man on Wire is a thrilling and inspiring documentary that celebrates the human spirit, creativity, and the pursuit of excellence. It tells the true story of Philippe Petit's daring high-wire walk between the World Trade Center towers, showcasing his courage and artistic vision.
What it praises
The film praises perseverance, artistry, and the power of creative expression. It highlights the importance of following one’s dreams and pushing boundaries while maintaining a sense of integrity and respect for others.
For discernment
Man on Wire is a masterfully assembled documentary — genuinely spellbinding as it reconstructs Philippe Petit's illegal 1974 tightrope walk between the Twin Towers, and it earns its praise for audacity, artistry, and single-minded devotion to a seemingly impossible dream. The honest counterweight is the man himself: the film candidly shows that in the flush of triumph Petit was unfaithful to the girlfriend who had sacrificed for him, and the film's most explicit moment is a rapid, blurred sex scene during his infidelity showing his rear and the sides of a woman's breasts. There's also brief talk of smoking pot and, of course, sustained vertigo-inducing tension over a deadly stunt. What's edifying is watching disciplined, years-long dedication to a vision; what's worth naming is that the documentary presents Petit's self-absorption and betrayal without much moral reckoning, treating even the infidelity as part of the intoxicating adventure. A discerning viewer can admire the craft and the courage while noticing that the 'follow your dream at any cost' ethos quietly costs the people around him.
- SexualityA rapid, blurred sex scene during Petit's act of infidelity shows his rear and the sides of a woman's breasts; the betrayal of his loyal girlfriend is presented without much moral reckoning.
- WorldviewThe film romanticizes a 'follow your dream at any cost' ethos, largely glossing over Petit's self-absorption and how it wounds those closest to him.
- SubstancesBrief talk of smoking marijuana.
Cast
Philippe Petit
Himself
Jean François Heckel
Himself
Jean-Louis Blondeau
Himself
Annie Allix
Herself
David Forman
Himself
Alan Welner
Himself
Barry Greenhouse
Himself
Jim Moore
Himself
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