MAN ON WIRE *****

IN 1974 Philippe Petit attached a cable suspended 1,350ft above ground, between the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in New York. He walked across it eight times with all the composure of someone taking a stroll in the park.

His death-defying act is celebrated in this fantastically entertaining documentary that is just as enthralling as any slice of blockbuster fiction.

Petit is a man of great passion and his irrepressible nature is revealed in a lengthy interview where he recalls the plotting and execution of his New York escapade. His accomplices are equally good value as they recall all the clandestine planning and last-minute mishaps.

Director James Marsh, like Petit, never puts a foot wrong as he joins together the interviews, home movies and reconstructions of key events that start to feel like a heist thriller.

An effective use of Michael Nyman music underlines the sweaty, nail-biting tension of a truly incredible story.