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Man on Wire

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United Kingdom, United States · 2008
Rated PG-13 · 1h 34m
Director James Marsh
Starring Philippe Petit, Jean François Heckel, Jean-Louis Blondeau, Annie Allix
Genre Documentary

On August 7th, 1974, a young Frenchman named Philippe Petit stepped out on a wire illegally rigged between the New York World Trade Center’s twin towers. This extraordinary documentary incorporates Petit’s personal footage to show how he overcame seemingly insurmountable challenges to achieve the artistic crime of the century.

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What are people saying?

Devin Bosley Profile picture for Devin Bosley

One of the most engaging documentaries I have ever seen! Philippe Petit is such a unique storyteller; the love he has for wirewalking shines through the screen. His insights pair so well with the real footage and reenactments, working together to create an honest portrayal of events and Petit himself. Prior to watching, I knew of his walk between the Twin Towers, but I was unfamiliar with how much planning was required, as well as his other famous stunts—a truly one-of-a-kind story. 

What are critics saying?

75

Premiere by

Much of this story is indeed entertaining: there's a tone of lighthearted mischievousness to the plotting and scheming of an illegal act that is essentially harmless.

80

New York Magazine (Vulture) by David Edelstein

The most miraculous thing about Man on Wire is not the physical feat itself, 1,350 feet above the ground, but that as you watch it, the era gone, the World Trade Center gone, the movie feels as if it's in the present tense. That nutty existentialist acrobat pulled it off. For an instant, he froze time.

67

The A.V. Club by Noel Murray

It's a story worth telling, yes--but after 90 minutes, it's hard not to wonder if the storyteller can talk about anything else.

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