TMA 273 Posts 1

Man on Wire

This was an interesting documentary because of how heavily reliant on reenactment it was. There were several parts that felt rather Hollywoodesque due to the way the reenactments were filmed. Like Brad mentioned in class, the beginning seemed like people were committing some nefarious act - almost like watching a band of terrorists enter the Twin Towers. There was one long sequence of reenactment during which people were hiding under a tarp or blanket while guards patrolled the floor.

With Philippe's interviews, they had him near a curtain, which he used to dramatize his storytelling of hiding under the tarp. He was certainly the most animated character being interviewed.

The stylized, well-lit black and white sequences are obviously reconstructions. I'm not so sure about the film with the Super 8 feel to it. It seems almost too convenient that they would have footage of Philippe arguing with his friends or teaching them how he's going to manage the extra movement of the cable.

I think the dramatizations helped the film in that it was engaging and drew the viewers in initially, but I also think that it hurt the film at the same time. Even though the climax of the film is done beautifully, I felt jipped because they didn't have any video of Philippe on the wire. They had quite a few stills, which they used quite well and complimented with excellent sound design, but after viewing so many stylized, perilous sequences the climax seemed a bit flat.

Still, overall I think it was a well made film and I enjoyed watching it.