Man on Wire is a faultless fantastical film. Philippe Petit is so charismatic, and it’s such a killer story engulfing adventure, artistry and accolade, that the stage is set for exclaiming the magnificence of real life. Yet it is the subtleties of the film that makes it soar above most other factual theatrical releases. It’s a polished journey, which stirred in me a fierce jealousy that I have no desire burning nearly as deep as Phillipe’s dream to cross the tallest towers in all the lands. The romance, the spirit, the freedom!
I got the train back from Britdoc with the Producer, after his winning Best British feature, to add to his double win at Sundance (Documentary Grand Jury and Audience Award), and learnt the extent of the energy spent to make the film so perfect. For example, the amazingly fortuitous archive footage of the training wire was shot by a prolific cinematographer, but never developed. After discovering it in Phillipe’s dusty cellar, obtaining the rights to use it involved lawyers and religion and multiply witnesses. This is a film born out of the dedication of everyone involved, and must be seen.
Comments
incredibly dull film. Saw it at a bafta preview screening. its too long and basically tells a story that could have been told in a 30 min tv docu… Boring behind words!
did Man on Wire stretch out longer than it needed? I though the length was necessary to build the tension and sweep you along in the adventure. what do others think??
It’s superb, a proper cinematic documentary! How you can call it boring is beyond me.
I thought it was brilliant, a real joy to watch!
I watched it in the oldest cinema in the UK and the only place to show it in the Midlands (apparently). I loved it. Strange how the doc on Alain Robert, aka French spiderman, did not manage to make as much of a splash even though it had more dramatic footage, more life or death situations… go figure.
I totally agree Fred! You’d think that the main goal of making a documentary about about someone who climbs on buildings for the thrill of it, especially when filming the actuality, would be to find a way for the audience to understand that thrill. It’s not just the gratuitous drama of the what the footage shows, but what people watching it experience that matters. Man on Wire nailed it, but the Cutting Edge doc was more illustrative I think
http://www.channel4.com/culture/microsites/C/cutting_edge/human_spider/gallery/gallery_8_index.html
Leave a comment
Sorry, but comments are closed for this page.