MAN ON WIRE – Philippe Petit, a Parisian street performer and wire walker, starts his 1974 tightrope walk between the World Trade Center’s twin towers. Photo Jean-Louis Blondeau/Polaris Images.

The documentary “Man on Wire” and the French thriller “Tell No One” open Sept. 26 at the Mary Riepma Ross Media Arts Center.

James Marsh’s “Man on Wire” recounts how Philippe Petit, a Parisian street performer and wire walker, pulled off an illegal tightrope walk between the World Trade Center’s twin towers. Petit completed the walk across the 1,350-foot plunge on Aug. 7, 1974.

Petit animates the movie, retelling the six years of struggle and myriad complications leading up to the crossing.

“Man on Wire” (rated PG-13 for some sexuality, nudity and drug references) plays through Oct. 2 at the Ross.

Starring Francois Cluzet, “Tell No One” is a French adaptation of Harlan Coben’s 2001 best seller of the same name. Eight years after the heinous murder of his wife, Dr. Alex Beck (Cluzet) receives an ominous e-mail from an unknown source. The message contains a video image of Beck’s thought-to-be dead wife in real time.

“Tell No One” (not rated) plays through Oct. 9 at the Ross.

For more information, including showtimes, go to www.theross.org or call the film information line at 472-5353.