Man on Wire (2008)

Directed by James Marsh. Discovery Films, BBC Storyville, UK Film Council, Wall to Wall, Red Box Films

Sometimes the simplest stories are the best. Man on Wire tells the story of how in August 1974, young Frenchman Phillipe Petite walked and danced for 45 minutes along a wire strung between the Twin Towers high above New York City. He achieved the feat with the help of a small band of friends, who spent months planning it and much of the night before hiding from security guards at the top of the skyscrapers.

The film uses interviews, historical footage, photographs and re-enactments to capture not only how a group of 20-somethings made the wire-walk a reality, but to also reflect the spirit of the time. It seems incredible now that a man could lead an operation to break into such high-profile buildings and escape with a psychological assessment and a slap on the wrist. The innocence of their pursuit, their sense of adventure and desire to create something beautiful, is perfectly illustrated by J. Ralph and Michael Nyman’s memorable score.

Petite himself remains a performer — animated and articulate, the consummate storyteller. His friends and former girlfriend Annie Allix help Man on Wire reach an unexpectedly moving crescendo.

The interview subjects’ willingness to relive their fears is crucial to one of the films’ greatest achievements, its incredible tension in the lead-up to Petite’s walk. It is edge-of-you-seat stuff, even though viewers know Petite managed it unharmed. Understanding what went through the minds of Petite’s friends as he stepped out onto the wire makes the sight of him out there all alone, graceful and calm, all the more spine-tingling.