THE WALK
US, 2015, 122 minutes, Colour.
Joseph Gordon- Levitt, Ben Kingsley, Charlotte Le Bon, Clement Sibony, James Badge Dale, Cesar Domboy, Steve Valentine, Benedict Samuel.
Directed by Robert Zemeckis.
The title seems rather innocuous, but the actual walk, and its repetitions, are far from simple. This is no walk in the woods but rather, a wire walk from one of the Twin Towers in New York City to the other, 101 stories above Manhattan.
Movie audiences may be familiar with the story from the excellent Oscar-winning documentary made by James Marsh, Man on Wire. It relied on the walker himself, Philippe Petit, as does this film, based on his book, To Reach the Clouds, as he himself served not only as adviser but as coach for the walking on wire sequences. He taught Joseph Gordon- Levitt to walk on a wire about a metre from the ground – and effects did the rest.
A warning that this film is not for the vertiginously- challenged, especially the 3D version which is very vivid. Audiences are invited to identify with Philippe and the walks, especially those on high buildings like the Cathedral of Notre Dame in Paris as well is the Twin Towers. He spent a lot of his time on the sides of buildings, on roofs, with practically nothing between himself and thin air. For those of a more adventurous sensibility, the film will probably be very exciting.
It comes as something of a shock at the beginning to find Joseph Gordon- Levitt, portraying Frenchman, Philippe, standing on the lamp on the Statue of Liberty – where he remains throughout the film narrating his story with the action in flashbacks. He speaks his English with a broken-French accent.
Philippe’s father was not very impressed with his little son’s delight in going to circuses, watching the wire acts, trying to emulate them – his father dismissing him as a circus clown. While trying his feet on the wire in the big top, he is caught by a master wire walker, Papa Rudy (Ben Kingsley), who eventually reveals to him many of the secrets of his trade. Which makes the audience aware that is not simply a matter of balance but there is much technical work to be done, the setting up of a wire safely, testing it, testing whatever holds it on each side of the space, and the engineering feats required for the higher the walk and the longer the walk. Philippe just simply didn’t get the bright idea of walking between the Twin Towers (well, perhaps he did) but it required a great deal of preparation, planning and meticulous execution.
Philippe is a Frenchman, works as an entertainer in the streets of Paris, initially clashes with a young woman, Annie, singing and playing in the same square where he was writing on a minor cycle – but, they do click, and she becomes one of his staunchest allies. Then there is a photographer, Jean-Louis?, who admires Philippe and becomes his photographer and his assistant.
They take all their equipment, especially the wire and tools, and are let into the US by a customs officer who is slightly amused at their bravado, not believing it for a minute. They spend a lot of time scouting the Twin Towers which were in 1974 in a state of near-completion, which helps and impedes access to the buildings. But, a businessman who works in the towers and had seen Philippe in his Notre Dame feat, also becomes an ally giving him access to the building. And when they go to buy communications, the American who is trying to sell them wire-less, is revealed also as a Frenchman and he becomes an enthusiastic helper. There are two others, one of them perpetually high, who decide to some of the drudge work, carrying the big box with all the materials into the towers but running away, especially when the police begin to make their presence felt.
For dramatic effect (and probably happened in real life) there are a number of difficulties in getting the box up to the floor, in security guards being present, in the arrow shot from one building to the other almost not landing – and all the preparation done during the night, especially the cable going from one building to the other.
As might be expected, the film builds up a lot of tension before the walk and there is some shared exhilaration with Philippe not only as he walks but as he goes back and forth, explaining the exhilaration of his being one with the wire, and that this being his vocation in life.
The film has been directed by Robert Zemeckis, who has shown versatility of interest over many decades: Romance in the Stone, Who Framed Roger Rabbit, Forest Gump, Beowulf, Flight…
Philippe’s feat was not simply a walk in the clouds but the work of a single-minded artist/athlete, working without permissions…, who achieved his dream, quite a spectacular dream.
1. A true story? Philippe as an artist/ athlete, train and someone who dared to fulfil the dream?
2. 1973-1974, the creation of the period, in France, the village, the circus? Paris, the streets and street performance?
3. New York, the Twin Towers and their re-creation? The city, the interiors of the building? Manhattan? The score?
4. The Twin Towers and a 1970s achievement? Tall buildings, like filing cabinets? Audience knowledge of the destruction? The effect of watching this pre-9/11 episode?
5. Philippe, Joseph Gordon- Levitt, appearance, accent? On the Statue of Liberty? Dressed in black, his uniform? Remembering, recounting? His personality, bright, single-mind, dedicated, relentless, expecting people to support him? His being urged to say thank you?
6. As a boy, relationship with his father, sneaking off to the circus, his practising the walk, his supporters? His father considering him as circus clown?
7. Trying out, the encounter with Papa, Rudi, Rudi and his reactions, critique, being paid to give advice? The importance of information from his learning? Of how much was required? The demonstration, his losing concentration, fall in the water?
8. The bond with Rudi The continued advice, the support?
9. In Paris, on the cycle, his circle, the audience, riding over people’s feet? Annie, playing , her complaint? The discussions, the bonding? Jean-Louis? and his photography, the two of them becoming allies? Collecting the money? Financing himself?
10. The idea of looking across the towers of Notre Dame, with Jean-Louis?, the setup, the walk, People’s acclaim?
11. The idea of the walk from the Twin Towers, going to New York, with Annie, taking photos, the Towers still in progress of being built? The visit to test reality?
12. The preparation, his vision, with Jean- Louis, the introduction to Jeff and his fear of heights, lacking English, maths and the puzzles and his English answers? Building the models, doing the calculations, information about cables, securing sides with wood, the different links?
13. Going to the US, telling the customs official about the plans for the walk, the laughing scepticism?
14. The bonds between the group? Philippe and his scouting, the plans, the encounter with Barry and his admiration, having been in Paris, giving them access to the building? Going to buy the communications, meeting with JP, salesman, Frenchman? His being willing to help? His getting the two slackers at short notice – drugs, unreliability?
15. Philippe and his standing on the nail, not letting that interfere? The timetable, getting the equipment, the date (and the day of the Nixon resignation)? Going over and over the plan, Philippe and his nightmare, nails in the box during the night?
16. The preparations, the equipment in the box, the tools? Going to the Towers, the elevator being leased? The waiting, JP and his spiel, their being let in, the elevator man, going to the 110th floor, the details of setting up, the security guard, the debate on the timetable, the radio contact, apprehensions, the arrow and the searching for it, nude, the exertions? Jeff and his fears, helping, the maths answers? The role of the silent visitor on the roof, confronting him? The connections of the cable? Its sagging? Apprehensions, Jeff and his help, the tightening of the cable? Annie and JP watching from below?
17. Ready for the walk, the tension, the filming of the walk, balance, crossing, his decision to return, his voiceover and his connections with the wire?
18. The police arriving, the others escaping? His performance, lying down and the manoeuvres? His deciding to finish? The applause of the people, admiration, even of the police?
19. The penalty, the performance in Central Park for children?
20. Annie, the decision to return to France, Philippe staying in the United States? 40 years? His technical advice for the film?
