Man On Wire is a documentary about Philippe Petit, also known as the man who danced along a high wire between the twin towers of the World Trade Center in 1974. The film, refreshingly, makes little mention of 9/11, showing minimal footage of Ground Zero. This documentary is clearly about the joys and magic of the tightrope walking feat one man performed—what it meant to those watching, to those who helped him prepare, and what it meant in that day and age. Even prior to 9/11, the idea of getting past so much security is unthinkable—this is surely a task that could only have come to pass a few years after the building’s completion.
Planning the Dream Carefully
Clearly, something like this calls for immense preparation. Petit had had previous experience setting up intricate tightrope projects, but this was his coupe de grande—the dream he had been chasing all his life. Having seen an advert for the twin towers before their completion, and knowing it was his goal to saunter on a wire between them, everything else could merely have been seen as practice. Petit had walked a rope between Notre Dame's towers, the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Louisiana Superdome, just to name a few. But the planning for the set-up and the handling of security--detailed in the first half of the film--is riveting and daunting.
America Overreacts
Interestingly, the film also says much about America, compared to the rest of the world, when it’s seen how law enforcement reacted. Even one of the arresting officers admitted he was seeing a once-in-a-lifetime event. Petit, clearly in character, willingly agitated the arresting officers for amusement, but once it became clear they planned to remove him by helicopter if necessary, he submitted. (He crosses back and forth 7 times in 45 minutes.) It’s not that he wasn’t arrested in other parts of the world for these stunts—but the punishments for him and his friends (particularly his friends) was surprisingly harsh, considering the "crime".
Standing Out From the Crazies
There are plenty of questionable people in the world trying to get noticed for crazy stunts. Philippe Petit is clearly not one of them. That isn't to say he isn't a little bit crazy--but the same could be said for anyone with real passion. Petit is a very talented juggler,magician, tight-rope walker and performer. His dedication and professionalism for his craft is obvious and it is difficult to question someone so enveloped in pursuing their dreams.
A Beautiful Idea and Spirit
It's hard to imagine one 90-minute film successfully encompassing one event, and even if it does, why watch a documentary about such a "simple" (if even amazing) task? Simply put, it’s intriguing. It not only captures an age unlike our own, it also embodies a desire to follow outlandish passions. Man On Wire celebrates the unyielding pursuit of magical once-in-a-lifetime moments.
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