ON August 7, 1974, high-wire performer Philippe Petit stunned the residents of lower Manhattan by seemingly walking on thin air between the twin towers of the World Trade Center.

His daredevil exploits, accomplished with the help of accomplices on both buildings including lover Annie Allix, are celebrated in James Marsh's documentary, which recreates events leading up to that historic, blustery summer's day, interspersed with news archive footage and interviews with the people closest to Petit.

Michael Nyman's haunting orchest ral score accompanies the action as Philippe and his small team narrowly avoid detection by secu rity guard patrols to enact their hare-brained scheme during which, death is one false move away.