Man on Wire won the Academy Award for best doc this year and I have a hard time arguing with that. It manages to take what may be the most foolhardy guerilla art action of the seventies and reveals layer after layer of beauty grace and finally a sublime triumph of the human spirit. This is what is meant by the phrase “slipping the surly bonds.
On August 4 1974 people all over america woke to find that a diminutive Frenchman, self taught wire walker, Philippe Petit, had, with friends help, snuck a huge wire up to the top of the Twin Towers, manage to string it without getting caught and spend a mind blowing 45 minutes dancing on it between the two tallest buildings in the world. The movie captures a profound mystery by bordering our uncertainty about Petits dangerous stunt with why his accomplish made us feel younger, happier and more hopeful about our troubled times. Great special features here include an extra interview with Petit, his 1973 crossing of the Sydney Harbor Bridge and the dynamite animated film The Man Who Walked Between The Towers.
If you are a fan of the film MAN ON WIRE you might want to visit the web site for the right-hand-man to Petit during the preparation of the WTC highwire walk. NY based photographer Jim Moore was helping Petit prepare for his walk for over 2 years and during that time documented many parts of the visits they made to the top of the towers and also the aerial shots taken from the helicopter.
http://moorepics.com
Jim Moore is also interviewed in the film and talks about why he didn't eventually end up being in the rigging crew that went up there that night.
Check out his site!