Joseph Gordon-Levitt has revealed he hopes his new movie about Philippe Petit’s high-wire walk between the twin towers of the World Trade Centre will bring back “beautiful memories” of the tragic buildings.
Philippe stunned New Yorkers in 1974 when he erected a wire between the north and south towers, which were still incomplete, and walked between them without a safety harness.
Joseph portrays Philippe in The Walk, which chronicles his dream to walk across the void between the 110th floors of the buildings.
Speaking on the red carpet at the world premiere of the film, which opened the New York Film Festival at Lincoln Centre, he said: “Of course with the World Trade Centre towers our mind immediately goes to the tragedy but with any tragic loss it’s good to remember the beautiful memories and experiences that you had with whatever it is you lost, and not just focus on the death but celebrate the life, whether it be towers or a lost loved one.”
The actor, best known for his roles in Inception and The Dark Knight Rises, was taught how to wire walk by Philippe for the role.
“When he described the walk to me it was in technical detail rather than emotions and I think the reason is there isn’t a great way to articulate those emotions. You can say it felt wonderful, it felt great, it felt beautiful, but none of those words suffice and that is why this movie is so great because it can show you visually.
“There is no visual record of the walk, just a few photographs, and this recreation is the first time you’re really getting to see it.”
The film is directed by Robert Zemeckis, whose credits include the Back To The Future trilogy, Forrest Gump and Cast Away, and the director said the lessons in wire-walking were his actor’s idea.
“I would never put that on an actor, to say you must learn how to walk on a tightrope. He wanted to do it and of course I was very enthusiastic once he said that but it was his idea,” he said.
Philippe also attended the movie premiere in New York and said he still clearly remembers the morning of August 7 1974.
“I remember my walk at the twin towers and the preparation vividly, to the point that when I wrote the book from which the movie was taken, I didn’t have to remember, I relived and I had goosebumps,” he said.
The Walk will be released in 3D and IMAX in the UK on October 9.
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