Man on Wire

I had wanted to catch this when it came out, but for some pathetically procrastinated reason I opted out. So i thank BBC for the oppertunity to peer into the bizarre and enviable life of Phillippe Petit, possibly the worlds maddest man. It may be considered "crazy" to go chopping peoples heads off or smear blood on the walls but for me, high wire walking between the two twin towers is about as insane as it gets.

Documentary's are tricky buggars, go on too long and they bore us rigid as the facts begin to overule any idea of entertainment. Yet this hour and a half of epic recollection balances itself between unbelievable archive footage and photographs with cleverly subtle reconstructions and Petit himself occasionally seen jumping and squirming 30 years later, with a relief (it seems) to be finally getting his story told. His energy and obsession has not wavered, his passion has not faltered and his maddness has most certainly not dissolved. There is an urgecy with this film, driven mainly by Petit's hypnotic brilliance. There is an itch that is so rare in a documentary and its this that makes it such a beautiful work. Although you know that this unicycle riding, top hat wearing, french magician is a nutter you love him, you admire him, and eventually you envy him. Such a life driven by curiosty and ambition is captivating and when it is delivered by a man with such a twinkle in his eye, it becomes impossile not to succumb to his charm.

This is not merely a recollection, this is not merely a re-telling, this is a painting of the unimaginable. There is tension throughout it, the numerous descriptions of how the "gang" nearly got caught by guards left me literally with a hand over my mouth. I knew the outcome yet I stayed with it. However throughout it there was a nagging question that sadly, could not go away. Would they mention 9/11, was it right that they should? common decency? And they didnt. Rightfully so. This is a celebration of the towers, and a celebration of Petit. There was no need for a sombre reflection. The portryal of their greatness alone was enough to signify how tragic such an event was. In fact it was quite nice to hear them being talked about with such love, and not be overshadowed by "what happened"

Petit is special and "Man on Wire" portrays seemlessly how special he is. When we finally see him walk the wire he is playfull, with a smile that could melt any authoritarian. We are simply and rightfully left to try and comprehend such bravery (if it can even be called such a thing). It was his vocation, it could not be avoided, and for a man of twenty to have such drive is quite sickeningly breathaking. It becomes impossible to comprehend he could of died, impossible to comprehend he could have done anything other than succeed and the beauty and eaey that it is executed with will not doubt leave a stunning legacy.

H xx