Philippe Petit - Someboday Has to Trespass

Philippe Petit is probably best known for walking on a high wire suspended between the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in 1974. He was arrested as soon as he came off the wire, but his act was captured in the Academy Award-winning film Man on Wire. Petit has continued to perform on the high wire, as well as to draw, teach, and to challenge himself constantly. "If you are not taunted by artistic challenge at least once a day you're dead," he says.


Lead in:

Twin Towers

What is another word for high wire walker?

What are other words for "walk"?

What are other words for "horrified"?

Listen out for them in the video.


Discuss

Have you heard of Philippe Petit?

Do you think he is a "dare devil" or is he so well trained that what he does only looks extremely dangerous?

Watch:

Philippe Petit: Somebody Has to Trespass

Part 1. 

2:30 - 9:16

1. Which is the hardest moment in wire walking, according to Philippe?

2. What does Philippe compare the wire with?

3. Why was he arrested by the New York Police?

4. What was his "coup"?

5. Who taught Philippe to wire walk?

6. What does Philippe say about artists and their tools?

7. In what sense does Philippe believe he never takes a risk?


Discuss the questions.

Part 2.

"Impossible, impossible, impossible."

9:16 - 12:30

1. What made Philippe's dream of walking between the trade towers seem impossible to him?

2. In what sense do the towers still exist for Philippe?

3. What does Philippe say about negative space? - what does he mean when he says "someone has to trespass" 

4. What does he always make before a performance?

5. What does Philippe mean when he talks about a "pull"?

Discuss the questions

Discuss:

What things "pull" you in life? Are there things you are just naturally attracted to doing?

Do you sometimes feel prevented from following natural attractions and interests? Why?

Language focus: from 4:40-7:11

My parents tried to stop me but to no a______

It was _______ natural that __________ many zig-zags in my young life I became a ____________ high-wire walker.

I had to ______________ everything

I decided to take the steel cable as a __________

This is not an _______ piece of steel

Look at these samples of Philippe's English:

put them to life

I learn to know how its design make friend the life of the cable.

to ask its forgiveness to allow me to

Now we pass 45 years later

Discuss:

1. Can you "correct" Philippe's English?

2. If you speak French, can you explain to others why Philippe expresses himself in this way?

3. Is Philippe a good English speaker, in your opinion?

Discuss:

 "If you are not taunted by artistic challenge at least once a day you're dead."

Is this true for you? In what sense do you need a challenge to feel alive?