In 1974, after 6 years of careful planning, Frenchman Philippe Petit snuck his way onto the roof of the nearly-complete World Trade Center towers in New York City. Under the cover of night, he and his crew then strung a 450 pound cable between the two towers, approximately 1/4 of a mile above the sidewalks below. Just as day broke, Petit stepped out onto this highwire and successfully walked between the two towers - eight times. In what was immediately dubbed the “artistic crime of the century,” Philippe Petit performed for forty-five minutes before being arrested and made headlines around the world.

In his Oscar-winning film, Man On Wire, director James Marsh recounts the planning and events that led up to Petit’s historical performance. By combining a narrative-style re-enactment with actual historical footage and on-camera interviews with Petit and his crew, Marsh weaves an astonishingly well-documented account of this extraordinary artistic achievement. Petit’s infectious personality and zeal for performing comes through in the very first frame he appears on-screen and he quickly garners the support of both his friends and the film’s viewers. The interviews with Petit’s crew, and particularly his right-hand man Jean Louis, reveal a deep and genuine loyalty to Petit’s vision and success. By the end of the film, it is clear that the men involved in this artistic act are all blown away by the sheer scale of the act they participated in and watched unfold. One can’t help but share their disbelief.

While I did not have the pleasure of seeing this film in the theater, it was just recently released on DVD. I watched it with my wife, whom I thought would have no interest in it and be turned off by watching a documentary. She enjoyed the film every bit as much as I did, and the story’s universal appeal is evident in the fact that it received 100% on RottenTomatoes.com. Check out the trailer in this post and then order the DVD below or look for it in your video store or Netflix. I guarantee you will be amazed at what you see.