Death defying film

Athlone Film Club presents Man on Wire, a death-defying documentary which will have you, literally, on the edge of your seat this Tuesday, April 21, at 8pm. On the morning of August 7, 1974, a French tight-rope walker named Philippe Petit stepped into the sky above Lower Manhattan. For almost an hour he ambled back and forth on a metal cable strung between the towers of the World Trade Centre, a feat of illegal tightrope walking that has been unequalled to this day. The destruction of the twin towers in the terrorist attacks revived the memory of that stunt, which is the subject of "Man on Wire", James Marsh"s thorough, understated and altogether enthralling documentary. Critics have lauded the film and pointed out that it"s impossible, while watching a movie so intimate in its attention to the towers, not to be haunted by thoughts of their fate. 'Without making any grandiose claims, this lovely, touching film demonstrates that the World Trade Centre sky walk was an important event. The proof is in the emotions - amusement, amazement, awe - evoked by those images of a tiny human figure balancing above a void. Also gratitude. It is easy to imagine that, in contemplating the scale and solidity of those brand-new towers, Mr Petit saw them at least partly as the vehicle of his own immortality (whether or not he survived the crossing). No one looking up at the New York sky on a hazy morning 34 years ago and seeing a man on a wire could have suspected that the reverse would turn out to be true,' said The New York Times. Ahead of the screening of Man on Wire, the Children"s Film Club presents The Goonies on the big screen on Sunday, April 19, at 2.30pm. The Goonies is a thrill a minute adventure film directed by Richard Donner. The screenplay was written from a story by executive producer Steven Spielburg. A band of kids from the "Goon Docks" neighbourhood of Astoria, Oregan, hoping to save their homes from demolition, go on an adventure to find the burried treasure of One-Eyed Willy, a legendary 17th century pirate. In the decades following its release it has gained cult status, lauching the careers of many child actors including Josh Brolin. So for a day out that will appeal to all in the family come along to the Dean Crowe Theatre, Sunday, April 19, to watch this action packed movie on the big screen. Admission is only €5 for adults, €3 for children, while members are free. For more information contact: athlonefilmclub@gmail.com.