Skywalkers (Netflix) Story :-
Follows the adventure of a Russian daredevil couple who scale the world’s tallest skyscraper.
Skywalkers (Netflix) Release Date, Trailor, Songs, Cast :-
| Release Date | 19 July 2024 |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Documentary |
| Duration | 1h 40min |
| Cast | Ivan Beerkus, Angela Nikolau |
| Director | Jeff Zimbalist |
| Writer | Jeff Zimbalist |
| Cinematography | Renato Serrano, Pablo Rojas, Ivan Beerkus, Angela Nikolau |
| Music | Jacques Brautbar |
| Producer | Jeff Zimbalist, Maria Bukhonina, Tamir Ardon, Chris Smith |
| Production | XYZ Films, Library Films, All Rise Films |
| Certificate | 16+ |
Skywalkers (Netflix) Review :-
Skywalkers: A Love Story takes “high anxiety” to a new level. This documentary explores the world of rooftoppers, daring individuals who climb the tallest buildings they can find, scaling skyscrapers and sharing their breathtaking footage on social media. Directed by Jeff Zimbalist, a former rooftopper himself, the film is masterfully edited, offering stunning, nerve-wracking shots of people walking on narrow girders, lounging on ledges, and climbing the slender, often curved spires atop skyscrapers.
The film immerses viewers in the risky world of these thrill-seekers, and even if you’re not afraid of heights, the vivid visuals might make you lean slightly, as if trying to keep “yourself” from falling. For those with a fear of heights (like this critic), it delivers a gripping mix of terror and exhilaration. Most of the footage, captured by the climbers themselves using mounted cameras, drones, and selfie sticks, showcases a dizzying wide-angle clarity that amplifies the sense of awe and danger.
Skywalkers isn’t just about daring climbs; it’s also a compelling love story entwined with the act of climbing. The film chronicles the journey of two Moscow rooftoppers, Vanya Beerkus and Angela Nikolau. Initially rivals, they join forces and travel from Paris to Bangkok, their partnership blossoming into romance but eventually facing the strains of their high-risk lifestyle. It’s a modern twist on “When Vanya Met Angela Met Vertigo.”
The film’s emotional depth comes from the interplay between these two strong personalities. Their shared passion for turning rooftopping into an art form both unites and divides them. The reckless independence of their climbs, often illegal and dangerous, mirrors their personal struggles. Skywalkers explores not just the physical thrill of balancing on skyscrapers but also the complex dynamics of trust, desire, and fear that come with it.
Vanya Beerkus and Angela Nikolau are born stars of this documentary. Vanya, a champion rooftopper from Russia in the mid-2010s, is known for his relentless ambition and has scaled every notable building with a single-minded dedication. His unique charm reflects his intense focus on the sport. Angela, in contrast, approaches climbing with a more artistic flair. As the only woman in Moscow’s rooftopper scene, she carves out her own style, often capturing herself in elegant, gymnastic poses high above the ground. Her background reads like a romantic tale: her parents were circus trapeze artists, and their aerial performances left a lasting impression on her. After her father left and her mother fell into depression, Angela’s acrobatic rooftopping becomes a way to honor her parents’ love. With her striking features and a blend of grace and toughness, Angela is like a Russian Olsen twin—delicate yet formidable.
Skywalkers (Netflix) Trailor :-
The duo climbs numerous buildings together, turning their daring exploits into a livelihood. Vanya, already a social media sensation with a massive Instagram following and lucrative sponsorships, sees his world unravel during the pandemic. The onset of the war in Ukraine leads to a Russian crackdown on social media, cutting off their fame and eroding the trust that sustained it.
Desperate to reclaim their status, Vanya proposes a high-stakes plan: they will scale the Merdeka 118 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia—a skyscraper still under construction without a functioning security system. Standing at 118 stories with a 150-foot spire, the building represents a razor-sharp challenge. If caught, they face lengthy prison sentences. Their audacious goal involves laying a girder across the spire’s central opening and performing a breathtaking stunt: Vanya will stand on the girder, suspended over the void, while holding Angela aloft in a “swan” position against the sky. This stunt could be described as a million times more extreme than “don’t try this at home.”
Like many film enthusiasts, I was captivated by the 2008 documentary Man on Wire, which chronicled Philippe Petit’s 1974 high-wire walk between the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center. However, one aspect of the film was particularly frustrating: despite building up to Petit’s breathtaking walk, there was no live footage of the event—only still photographs.
It’s remarkable that such an iconic moment wasn’t captured on film, and in a way, Skywalkers addresses this gap. The documentary immerses us in the thrilling journey of Vanya and Angela, offering the kind of cinematic experience that should be seen in theaters, much like Free Solo did. Like Man on Wire, it also serves as a heist thriller of sorts, as Vanya and Angela must navigate a complex route—scaling a stadium, traversing a partially constructed mall, walking a bridge into the skyscraper, and then climbing upwards. When they are spotted, they end up hiding in a concrete nook for over 20 hours, adding to the tension and excitement.
By the time they’re ready to emerge from their hiding spot, Angela is drained, suffering from a pounding headache, and nursing an arm injury. The situation seems far from triumphant; it looks more like a recipe for disaster. Yet, the true essence of climbing the Merdeka is whether Angela can trust a man she fears will not be there for her. The film’s thrill lies in its portrayal of what love truly means: navigating the heights of devotion without a safety net, captured through breathtaking footage of them hanging from a steel beam.
“Skywalkers” is now streaming on Netflix.
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