• James Marsh
• United Kingdom
• English, French
• Documentary
• 2007
• 

Exhilarating indeed! This documentary celebrates the achievement of Philippe Petit during that fateful day, as they call, The Coup, way back in 7 August 1974 when the now lamented World Trade Center was newly opened with the south tower still being constructed. Petit, a French tightrope walker, or as the police being interviewed said it, tightrope dancer, pulled off an astonishing feat: crossing the gap between the two towers, at 430 meters above the ground on a cable with just his pole and making world history that spanned the globe. What made it all the more intriguing is how they achieved it covertly with all those materials used in setting up the tightrope.

For a documentary work, it’s quite a well crafted film especially that the event occured 33 years ago. James Marsh was able to assemble Philippe’s close friends, his associates and lover during that time for an interview with the walker himself as the main narrator. It’s a seamless blend of good narrative, reenacted shots, old footage as well as still photos. You would not just realize that there actually is no actual video of the WTC walk as the breakthaking black and white photos just blows you away. It’s very engaging, full of suspense, enthralling and worth a good sitting.