15. November: The Walk (OV)

Even a wire may be a vehicle for your own immortality

The french tightrope walker Phillippe Petit has strained and winded up ropes for years. Wire cables, cords, ropes … whatever you might call them, they are his life and represent his “highest” dreams as well as his “deepest” risks.

Phillippe is obsessed with the idea of walking on a wire cable strained between the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center. All his thoughts are focused on this coup. For the next months, he is preparing and training for this walk. Finally, it is the 7th of august in 1974 when Phillippe wants to realize his dream.

417m above the ground: The wire cable is shaking and gust of wind dictates the rhythm of Phillippe’s movements. Maybe this performance will offer him immortality. Actually, it does not matter whether he survives or not in order to reach it.

Between the easy philosophising and celebratory tone, the film has the visual thrill that proves why some movies still need to be seen on the big screen. (Bangkok Post)