The Walk
Short description
The Walk tells the story of Philippe Petit, a French high-wire performer who becomes determined to stretch a cable between the Twin Towers of New York's World Trade Center and walk across it. The idea takes hold years before the towers are finished, and turning it into reality demands months of planning, a crew of international helpers, and the guidance of his mentor, Papa Rudy. Petit is joined by his girlfriend, Annie Allix, and a small group of recruits who help him overcome setbacks and disagreements as they work toward the unauthorised crossing in 1974.
Robert Zemeckis directed and co-wrote the film with Christopher Browne, and produced it with Steve Starkey and Jack Rapke. It is the eighteenth of the twenty-three films Zemeckis has directed in chronological order, coming after Flight and before Allied. Joseph Gordon-Levitt plays Petit, with Ben Kingsley as Papa Rudy, Charlotte Le Bon as Annie Allix, and James Badge Dale, Clément Sibony and César Domboy among the supporting cast.
Made for a budget of 35 million dollars, the film took about 61 million dollars worldwide. On IMDb it holds 7.3 out of 10 from around 141,000 votes, while on TMDB it sits at 7 out of 10 from roughly 3,500 votes. A critics' rating of 7.1 out of 10 from 277 reviews places it close to the audience scores.
What's left behind the scenes
- The film's screenplay is based on Philippe Petit's book "To Reach the Clouds".
- During the eight-day seminar, Philippe Petit personally taught Joseph Gordon-Levitt juggling and tightrope walking. By the end of it, the actor was able to walk the tightrope, located at a height of 12 feet (3.6 m). It was at this height that the scenes of walking between the buildings of the World Trade Center were filmed.
- When Philippe walks the tightrope between the towers for the first time, his companion photographs him with a modern Nikon camera, even though the action takes place in 1974.
- In the scene where Philippe Petit walks the rope between the towers, a close-up shows his foot covered in blood and bloodstains on the rope (1h44m). In the next scene, during a close-up shot of the rope, the hero's shoes are completely clean, as is the rope (1h 45m).
- Joseph Gordon-Levitt speaks French fluently, but for the film he had to refine a Parisian accent. By listening to Philippe Petit, he also perfected the tightrope walker's Franco-American accent and adopted his manner of speech.
- The antenna on the North Tower of the World Trade Center was not present until 1978, which is four years after the events depicted in the film took place.
- After the lollipop trick, Philippe breaks a tooth on the right side. In the dentist's waiting room, he initially holds his left cheek, and only in the middle of the scene shifts his hand to his chin, and then to his right cheekbone.
- According to director Robert Zemeckis, Joseph Gordon-Levitt was the only actor he ever considered for the role of Philippe Petit.
- Robert Zemeckis became captivated with the idea of making this film 10 years ago, when he came across the children's book 'The Man Who Walked Between The Towers'.
- The scene with the model of the Twin Towers is a reference to Robert Zemeckis’s “Back to the Future” trilogy.
- August 1, 1974, was a Thursday, but the film states that it was a Wednesday.
- When two officers try to grab Philippe's hand during his 'walk,' in one shot they are literally a step away from the edge of the building, and in the next, they are much further back than they were before.
- Philippe walks the rope towards the North Tower, then lies down on the rope, lies there, gets up – and finds himself facing the South Tower.
- During filming, the actors gathered every Sunday to watch Robert Zemeckis's films.
Auditions in India
Casting calls in USA
Castingi w Polsce
Кастинги в Україні
