Perilous Passion : How Daredevils Angela and Ivan Took Love to New Heights

Add as a preferred source on Google

Love is a beautiful yet challenging emotion that often drives people to extremes to show their devotion. Whether it's making sacrifices, going on wild adventures or tackling fears together, couples frequently step outside their comfort zones to prove their love. Take for instance, the real life Russian couple Angela Nikolau and Ivan Beerkus of 'Skywalkers, A Love Story' fame. They remind us that love can push us to new heights, literally and figuratively. Let's put a spotlight on this daring couple to know more.

Photo Credit: https://www.instagram.com/beerkus

How It All Started

Nikolau and Beerkus, both Moscow-born "rooftoppers," made a name for themselves by sneaking into tall buildings and scaling them without safety gear. Their risky hobby gained global attention in 2014 when Rolling Stone featured Beerkus and his climbs of Stalin-era buildings, that caught Nikolau's eye on Instagram. A former gymnast from a family of circus performers, Nikolau began climbing and posing acrobatically for photos.

In 2016, Beerkus reached out to her for a climb in China, sparking both their partnership and romance. Together, they scaled iconic buildings like the Goldin Finance Tower, Ping An International Finance Centre, and more. Their most daring feat, climbing Merdeka 118 in Kuala Lumpur in 2022, saw them hiding for 36 hours inside the building to evade security and reach the top.

About Skywalkers: A Love Story

This Netflix documentary combines over 200 hours of footage shot over seven years, following daredevil couple Angela Nikolau and Ivan Beerkus, who made a career out of scaling the world's tallest buildings. The film covers their journey from falling in love to their most intense stunt yet: breaking into the unfinished Merdeka 118 skyscraper in Malaysia and climbing its 160-metre spire.

This story soon grabbed attention - Ivan Beerkus and Angela Nikolau, illegally scaling skyscrapers for daring selfies, with nothing but a deadly drop beneath them. It's no surprise their wild adventures have been turned into Skywalkers: A Love Story, a Netflix documentary that romanticizes their risky stunts.

The Controversies

Angela and Ivan's daring climb to the top of the Merdeka 118, captured in the film Skywalkers: A Love Story, ended in a breathtaking moment, with Ivan lifting Angela high above the skyline. The image even became an NFT displayed in Times Square. However, controversy followed as accusations of faking the climb surfaced, which the couple countered with social media footage. Their climb was deemed illegal, sparking a Malaysian police investigation, though the couple claims they never received any formal charges. Angela later apologised for the stunt, including her use of a hijab to evade security.

Ivan Beerkus and Angela Nikolau Right Now

Once you've finished watching their jaw-dropping stunts on Netflix, you'll likely be curious to know what the daring couple is up to right now? After their thrilling climb of the Merdeka 118, Angela and Ivan settled in Bangkok, scaling various buildings while capturing stunning imagery to sell as NFTs (Non-fungible tokens).

Now in New York City, they've pivoted to new creative pursuits, Angela as an artist and Ivan as a musician. Though they're keeping their future climbing plans under wraps.

Angela joked with Variety about their visa restrictions, saying, "We aren't allowed to do anything illegal in this country," but hinted at potential adventures ahead. Despite their shift in focus, they're still eyeing more sky-high escapades, with Ivan quipping that they don't plan to stop until they're 75!
As Angela and Ivan navigate the fine line between thrill-seeking and safety, their story serves as a reminder of the risks some are willing to take for the sake of passion and creativity.

What does this fascination with extreme stunts reveal about our desire for connection, adventure, and the pursuit of the extraordinary?

The conversation about the ethics and motivations behind such breathtaking feats continues to evolve, leaving us curious about what the future holds for this daring subculture.