Man on Wire

 

Genre: documentary

With: Philippe Petit, Jean-François Heckel, Jean-Louis Blondeau, Annie Allix, David Forman, Alan Welner, Mark Lewis, Barry Greenhouse, Jim Moore and Guy F. Tozzoli (as themselves)

Director: James Marsh

Screenplay: Philippe Petit (based on his book)

Release: 2008

Studio: Discovery Films, BBC Storyville, UK Film Council

Rating: PG-13

MBiS score: 8.7/10

  

Don’t Even Consider It! 

 

QuickView

Story-line: France in the 1970s. After walking a tightrope above Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris and Harbor Bridge in Sydney, Philippe Petit sets his sights on an even more challenging landmark in the Big Apple.

Pluses: Philippe’s mesmerizing insights about life and his search for personal fulfillment, splendid support from a likeable and candid group of participants, excellent, laser-precise direction, a brilliant, non-linear screenplay that uses vivid stock footage, fictional recreations and profound commentary to weave a surprising and suspenseful story, very good cinematography, fine production values and a topical musical score.

Minuses: indirectly, MAN ON WIRE serves as a bittersweet memorial of the World Trade Center when it stood supreme in the New York City skyline.

Comments: both hair-raising and overwhelming, MAN ON WIRE immortalizes an astounding feat by a wonderful magician and athlete who dared to dream something impossible and worked obsessively to make it happen, with the help of his amazing creativity, his resilience to pressure, a dedicated team around him and a little bit of luck. In James Marsh’s masterly and humanistic documentary, you will meet the man on a wire, admire his prowess and determination, understand how he came to see the Twin Towers as a crowning achievement. This work of poetry, an obvious Best Documentary winner at the Oscars, is one of those priceless films movie buffs live for. 

 

MBiS 

© 2026 – All rights reserved