It’s an interesting topic and one that’s tailor-made for a visually stunner of a documentary, but I have mixed feelings about “Skywalkers: A Love Story,” from directors Maria Bukhonina and Jeff Zimbalist. So much of the movie’s dramatic narrative feels too stagy and inauthentic to make much of an impact, but the footage of death-defying stunts is as compelling as it is crazy.
In a quest to reignite the sparks in their rocky relationship, daredevil couple Angela Nikolau and Ivan Beerkus fix their sights on the ultimate prize: scaling the world’s largest skyscraper and performing a stunt on its highest spire. These two don’t seem to be a great fit, with the exception of their passion for the extreme sport of “rooftopping.” It’s an extremely dangerous undertaking (over 50 urban explorers have died and hundreds more have been critically injured) to climb tall buildings without safety gear, and it’s something I cannot fathom ever wanting to attempt. But Ivan and Angela have made a name for themselves (and have amassed a massive social media following) by attempting to one-up the other competitors participating in the same dangerous game.
The aerial photography is gorgeous and dizzying, with jaw-dropping body cam and drone footage that shows just how high these structures actually are. Humans atop them look small, but the thrill of it all is contagious, which proves to be one of the more disturbing aspects of the film.
The film begins with a disclaimer and warning not to participate in such a dangerous and illegal activity, but walks an awfully thin line of glamorizing it. Angela and Ivan find success with few consequences, and I could see people wanting to try to do this themselves after watching the movie. This is not the fault of a filmmaker of course, but it’s also concerning.
The documentary slows when it shifts towards the couple’s preparation for their big climb, including an accident that sidelines their plans and causes Angela to grow frustrated and angry. This feels too stiff and scripted, because the best parts of “Skywalkers: A Love Story” are the ones that embrace the edginess of their thrill seeking.
By: Louisa Moore
Screen Zealots 