Film: Man on Wire (2008) "The artistic crime of the century"

Philippe Petit, performing a poetic dance across the WTC towers, NYC 1974

Far above the New York City skyline on a hazy August 1974 morning, a diminutive, flamboyant and quixotic Frenchman daringly dances across the twin towers of the World Trade Center. Crazy and delusional as it may sound, Philippe Petit's 45 minute performance, his gracious ballet conducted in thin air, comes across as a destined, rational, well-orchestrated stunt in the documentary 'Man on Wire' (2008) by director James Marsh. In a series of interviews, real footage and recreated scenes, Marsh captures the thrilling achievement more as a break-in heist where logistical nightmares of transporting equipment up the 107 floors of the two towers, security guards, and false ID's stand in the way of one man's ambition. "It's impossible, that's sure. So let's start working," says Petit of the challenge. This heartfelt documentary captures, without grandiose intentions, the wonder, delight and awe of one man's unbelievable dream brought to reality through the trust, solidarity and dedication of a handful of friends. If nothing else, Petit challenges us to join him metaphorically on the wire: "To me, it's really so simple, that life should be lived on the edge. You have to exercise rebellion. To refuse to tape yourself to the rules, to refuse your own success, to refuse to repeat yourself, to see every day, every year, every idea as a true challenge. Then you will live your life on the tightrope." The irony of it all, is that Petit survives to tell his tale...and yet the buildings do not.