Analyze a Hybrid Documentary [Blog Task]

Hybrid Documentary: Man on Wire

Man on Wire is I think the first hybrid documentary I’ve ever watched. What makes this movies so good, for me is all the facts, interviews, old footage and modern techniques combined, to be used flawlessly all together in order to give a story in it’s most full and engaging form.

In terms of audiovisual metaphors, the movie was not missing any. There were quite a few moments of such technique in the film like, when they put comedic music over a scene in which Philippe and one of his friends are both pulling a rope from the 2 different sides of it, in order to alert each other that there is a security guy staring at them. Or when we hear scary-movie music (non-linear sounds) when they hear a security guy near them. However, the scene when i got the strongest emotion from this technique is when Philippe at the top of one of the Twin towers for the first time. While we are seeing old pictures of him looking around, we constantly hear this ambiance of wind and city traffic.

It makes the picture come to live more or less and really makes the viewer feel the overwhelming height of the tower.

In terms of performance, the movie was brilliant for me. I actually researched, and it is missing little to none details from the true story. It’s really rich in story and i think the non-linear timeline made it really engaging.

As the story progresses, the whole idea starts to feel kinda like a bank heist or robbery, as Philippe describes it. Therefore, in my opinion the shady, and dramatic character introductions felt just in place.

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The characters introduced before that feeling is established, are introduced in a more casual and relaxed shot , as it wouldn’t make sense otherwise.

The movie was engaging throughout the whole time, the flashbacks looked very real, which i still can’t find any information on how they did it. We can definately feel the hybrid part of it, but not as a problem of continuity or something unbelievable that takes us out of the experience. It’s used as a tool to make us see and feel more, than there is in the real old footage. It intensifies the emotions dealt through the movie. The excitement. The worry. The happiness.