Man on Wire (2008)

After three days of separate 30 minute viewings, I finally finished the documentary, "Man on Wire." I was really impressed with the story and found it an inspiring piece in a post-9/11 world. Though the tragedy of events of 9/11 are never mentioned in the documentary (and I thought this was a good choice), one can't help but to have an overwhelming feeling of emotion upon seeing these colossal structures.
"Man on Wire" documents the conquest of Frenchman, Philippe Petit to perform a tight rope walk across the Twin Towers during their construction in the early 1970's. The film intertwines personal footage of the preparation and actual feat, reenactments of the operation to secure the wire, and interviews of the individuals involved in the planning and execution. Director James Marsh does a nice job of keeping the film interesting by splicing the reenactment and personal accounts of getting and securing the wire to the tops of the Towers. This process keeps the film fluid by giving it a more exciting, illicit quality. Thought the "caper" conducted in this film is essentially illegal (but not to the extent of physically of financially damaging others), Phillipe and his cohorts, and possibly Marsh, compel the viewer to question the delicate balance between human expression and legality. One of the best pieces of footage to capture this tangling of emotion is the interview with one of the New York City police officers that is sent to the top of the Towers to bring down the Petit. You can tell in his interview that the officer struggles with his obligation to fulfill lawful duty and that at the same time, he appreciates that he has witnessed first-hand something so beautiful and immense. I think this realization is the crux of the film and is what truly makes it interesting and thought-provoking.
Though I can't speak as to the acting in this film, I will say that Marsh's character development (of Petit and his accomplices) is astonishing. By the end of the film, you feel that you have a better sense of these individuals and their motives--some self-serving, some for the sake of adventure, and some for the sake of art. Marsh does a fantastic job in "Man on Wire" of challenging his audience to evaluate Man's place in this world and the human condition.

3.25 out of 4