James Marsh, Man on Wire

It's one of the wonders of the 20th century, French wirewalker Philippe Petit's 45-minute
stroll between the World Trade Center's twin towers on Aug. 7, 1974. Now, courtesy of
James Marsh's amazing documentary Man on Wire, Petit's startling daredevil stunt, or
"poetry" as he calls it, can be reconsidered in all its fascinating detail.
As Man on Wire makes clear, via home movies, vintage news clips and recreations,
Petit needed a gang and subterfuge to gain access and carry nearly a ton of equipment
to the top of what was then the world's tallest buildings. The courage was all his own.

•