02/07/08

Philippe Petit, is an inspirational figure to many slackers who have walked or have aspired to walk a highline. The man who performed a tightrope walk between New York's Twin Towers has been immortalised in a documentary.

Philippe Petit has been interviewing in the UK to promote the film. He was featured on Last nights "Culture Show" on BBC2 at 10pm (repeated includes this - "Tightrope walker Philippe Petit discusses a new documentary about his high wire walk between New York's twin towers in August, 1974" , repeated on Thursday at 11.20pm and should be available on iPlayer for any (.uk people) who miss the main screenings.

Philippe Petit was also interviewd by BBC Breakfast about 1974's illegal stunt that is the subject of "Man on Wire".

You can view this interview by clicking the image to the right.

The film entitled "Man On Wire" was previewed at this years Sundance Film Festival.

The BBC's Sundance festival review reads as follows: 

THE FILM: Man On Wire is an extraordinary documentary about "the artistic crime of the century". In 1974 a Frenchman called Philippe Petit balanced on a high wire between the World Trade Centre's Twin Towers; this film recalls his amazing New York story (or is that storey?) using great archival footage and interviews with all of the leading players. Man On Wire was the worthy winner of both the Audience Award and Jury Prize in the World Cinema Documentary section when the Sundance prizes were announced on Saturday 26th January.

The film's director, James Marsh, has been performing his own balancing act in recent years, alternating between documentaries (The Burger And The King, Wisconsin Death Trip, The Team) and features (The King, starring Gael Garcia Bernal).

Links

> The Official Man on a Wire website

> View Film Trailer

> Philippe Pettit on Wikipedia

> 1974 Radio report

> Questions and answers with Philippe Pettit