Man on Wire (2008)

At this moment when documentaries have never been so popular James Marsh has directed one to blow the rest away. It’s an outstanding documentary of head-shaking proportions. Literally, if at any point in this film you can avert your eyes from the screen, all you will see is the backs of heads swiveling from one side to the other in disbelief.

It documents Frenchmen Philippe Petit’s 1974 high-wire walk between the Twin Towers of the World Trade Centre. Part original footage, part reconstruction, Marsh has woven together a film of the year. "The artistic crime of the century” and described by Marsh as “a heist movie” he seems to have taken inspiration from both Morris and Mann. An unlikely combination, but one that has worked tremendously well. The speed and pace, the flashbacks, the development of the central character arc, everything is pitch perfect.

Michael Nyman is used for the bulk of the soundtrack and he doesn’t disappoint. It could be his best score since my personal favourite Gattaca. Add to this the mystique of the most surreal photographs ever seen (Petit’s crew had enough to carry to the top without a video camera adding extra weight) and you come close to understanding the poetic nature of the film.

One photo in particular stands out from the rest. Taken from ground zero looking up at one tower, in the top-left corner flying high above is an aeroplane. This of course evokes the palpable question of 9/11. Something that is always present throughout but is never alluded to further than this, a slight reminder.

It's showing at the Prince Charles Cinema this week, brought back some two months after it’s UK premiere.