Man On Wire

The already striking imagery and thought of walking on a wire, hundreds or thousands of feet above cement, with nothing to catch a falling being, immediately draws viewers in. While the story of walking a tightrope between the former World Trade Center towers reigns supreme, Man On Wire sheds light on the cultural differences between French and Americans, and leaves us with a feeling that there is more to living than abiding rules. And perhaps abiding rules is not fully living.

One may argue that the language of Philippe alone is anything but American. Sure, French is his native language, but the way he actually speaks is luminous, creative and vibrant. When referencing his need to focus, he says he "must be cast away on the desert island of [his] dreams." These words are not from a script, nor are they practice. The sense of imagination within his word choices hints to a Parisian, laid back, let's-feel-everything environment.

What's rarer than a man willing to share his innermost captivating thoughts is a man willing to cry on-camera about his once best friend. Jean-Louis breaks down later in the film about the beauty of what they managed to pull off at the World Trade Center. He and Philippe had a volatile relationship throughout the years, and despite this, the passion for his friend and their masterpiece moves him to tears. Culturally, it is as though Europeans, especially males, are unafraid to open up and share honest emotions.

Also willing to share about a relationship with Philippe was his former girlfriend. What was striking about her treatment of the end of their relationship was that she said she knew it had to end there, and that it was beautiful. There was no analysis into why it ended, where it went wrong, how she could get him to be with her again-- classic American ponderings.

Throughout the movie, in fact, we see these European figures honor the beauty of even a single day. It is said that for Philippe, every day is like a piece of art. And after 45 minutes and eight passes on a tightrope in NYC, Philippe is asked one question by Americans: Why? He says, "There is no why." And that is the beauty of it, according to him.

On a personal level, I found this striking. As a journalism student, I've been taught to ask the how's, who's, when's, where's and why's. We must know the reason for everything. But why? After watching the film, I am left wanting to take on the mindset of a European Philippe. Perhaps I should stop questioning life, and instead listen to his words:

"Life should be lived on the edge of life...on a tightrope."