Branchage Festival, 25-28th September 2008, Jersey.

Director: James Marsh
Year: 2008
Duration: 90 min
Country: UK

In the early 70’s, New York’s World Trade Centre towers were nearing completion, and French tightrope walker Philippe Petit's dream of walking between these twin towers was also close to reality. This daring but illegal, high-wire routine has been considered "the artistic crime of the century” as Petit astonished the world by succeeding the walk early one morning in 1974. This documentary film, winner of Best Documentary at the Britdoc Film Festival 2008 and the hit of Sundance, is played out as a daring heist movie, seamlessly interweaving archive, interviews, and reconstructions, as we follow Petit from his early self-taught experiments in wire walking to his earlier daredevil stunts at Notre Dame in Paris and the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Dizzying, electrifying and superbly told, and with a spectacular score using the music of Michael Nyman, MAN ON WIRE is a cinematic treat.

In the grand setting of the majestic Jersey Opera house, this is the perfect opener to sum up the spirit of the festival.

WHY DID BRANCHAGE CHOOSE THIS FILM TO OPEN THE FESTIVAL? This stunning cinematic treat showcases both new British cinema at its best and also proves that the UK leads the world in documentary film; two aspects of 21st century filmmaking that Branchage is keen to champion. And Branchage is a firm believer in artistic crimes, especially when they’re this spectacular; you’ll be gasping and grabbing your seat when the man makes it out onto the wire.

PRE SCREENING ENTERTAINMENT:
Callum Gray (Live)

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Buy Tickets by Phone from Jersey Opera House: 01534 511 115

Watch the trailer:
Branchage Festival YouTube Channel