Man on Wire

Man on Wire is a very content driven documentary about the pursuit of passion. This documentary is interesting because it is told from a third person point of view. Unlike Time Indefinite, someone plans these interviews, digs up the archival footage, and recreates events. The film is a suspense of discovery; you know from the start of the film that Phillipe will succeed in his quest to walk a wire between the WTC towers, and the tension in the film comes from the discovery of how it came to be and all the obstacles overcome. Most of the film feels like a guy just talking about his passion for tightrope walking, but in a few spots it opens up to a more essayistic feel. in the middle Phillipe has a line something like: "To ease the pain i dove into my memories." He goes on to talk about some of his earlier walks and experiences. The basic formula of an essay. Again at the end he and his girlfriend talk about how he changed because of his walk and the fame that came with it. I found myself wanting more of the end throughout the movie. Everything felt honest, but in a way not truly genuine; in the way that Time Indefinite feels genuine. All the people interviewd have had over thirty years to think and stew about their experiences, which kind of draws the viewer out ovf the moment of the scene. it's an entertaining movie, but the difference in time seems to distract, at least for me. i don't have a really good way to get around that, but I think that issue of distance in this cse needs addressing.