After seeing the film, The Wire, I pretty much knew what to expect from this documentary. Documenting high wire walker, Phillippe Petit's daring walk across the twin towers in New York is a story of courage and living your passion.
This documentary consists of many interesting elements. One of them is the early black and white footage in the re-enactments and the old footage of Phillippe walking on the wire. It gives a sense of nostalgia, a sense of seeing how long its been since he did that stunt. Cinematography in this documentary is also a very interesting element, especially the time when Phillippe describes what it was like when he saw the light as the elevator went higher and higher. Also, the use of some of the props helps Phillippe tell his story with passion, something he is embedded with. It also gives the audience a sense of realism. They way the story cuts back and forth between Phillippe doing his walks around the world and the World Trade Centre being built also makes the story interesting, letting the audience know that these things were happening simultaneously.
Music is also an interesting element, especially when it shows him walking on the wire. The choice of music is light and melodious, which in a way is what Phillipe's act of walking on the wire is. It is a form of art, a form of entertainment, and a form of Phillippe's passion and calmness. The music helps convey that really well.
This documentary also has a very cinematic appeal to it in terms of the way the story is told. A lot is talked about in this film, from his childhood to his love life, from his early attempt to walk the wire till the World Trade Centre.
