Man on Wire

Man on Wire is a 2008 BritishAmerican biographical documentary film directed by James Marsh. The film chronicles Philippe Petits 1974 highwire walk between the Twin Towers of New Yorks World Trade Center. It is based on Petits book, To Reach the Clouds, released in paperback with the title Man on Wire. The title of the film is taken from the police report that led to the arrest and later release of Petit, whose performance had lasted for almost one hour. The film is crafted like a heist film, presenting rare footage of the preparations for the event and still photographs of the walk, alongside reenactments with Paul McGill as the young Petit and presentday interviews with the participants, including Barry Greenhouse, an insurance executive who served as the inside man.

The films producer Simon Chinn first encountered Philippe Petit in April 2005 on BBC Radio 4s Desert Island Discs, after which he decided to try to acquire the film rights to his book, To Reach the Clouds. After months of discussion, Petit agreed, with the condition that he could actively collaborate in the making of the film. In an interview conducted during the run of Man on Wire at the 2008 Tribeca Film Festival, director James Marsh explained that he was drawn to the story in part because it immediately struck him as a heist movie. As Jean Franois, one of Petits collaborators later said, It may have been illegal...but it wasnt wicked or mean.Marsh also said that, as a New Yorker, he saw the film as a gift to the city since the 911 attacks. He said he hopes to hear people say that they will now always think of Petit and his performance when recalling the World Trade Centers twin towers. Responding to questioning as to why the towers destruction in the 2001 attacks is not mentioned in the film, Marsh explained that Petits act was incredibly beautiful and that it would be unfair and wrong to infect his story with any mention, discussion or imagery of the Towers being destroyed. ........

Source: Wikipedia