Skywalkers spent 30 hours trapped inside building before record climb

“This film contains extremely dangerous and illegal activities,” is quite the warning for Netflix’s new romantic documentary. And in case any viewers were brave enough to think they could, it adds: “Do not attempt to imitate.”

Well-known for taking their daredevil ways around the world, Angela Nikolau and Ivan Beerkus took on one of their highest, and highest-stakes, challenges back in 2022.

Easily the most prominent rooftopping couple, the Moscow pair’s love for taking to the top of some of the world’s tallest buildings and for one another is documented in Skywalkers: A Love Story.

Landing on Netflix today (July 19), the documentary sees Nikolau and Beerkus work towards and attempt to reach the top of Malaysia’s Merdeka 118 super-skyscraper.

But before they could try and get that Instagram-perfect shot from the top of its 160-metre spire, the skywalkers spent 30 hours inside the 2,200-foot tall building.

In the days before the attempt, the doc shows how meticulously the pair planned the ascent - from pages of maps and blueprints to Beerkus flying his drone up to get a clear view of the top of the skyscraper.

Plus, Beerkus very importantly planned for them to take to Merdeka on the night of the 2022 World Cup final as he figured the security guards would be distracted by the soccer match.

So, as the game played out, the couple put on their disguise, entered at 1am and began to make their way up. By the time the penalties had begun, they had made it a good way up and decided to take a break to rest until sunrise.

But then, as they awoke just after 5am, they soon ran into trouble.

Nikolau and Beerkus realized the construction workers were on the same floor as them, 113.

So close to the top, they ended up hiding themselves behind building materials.

Viewers can see all this play out as the crew had them hooked up with mics and GoPros.

“I don’t know how we get out of here,” Beerkus says. “Our chances are low with this heat and zero water left.”

While Nikolau ‘keeps thinking of those prisons’ they could end up in if they’re caught, her partner is quietly coughing from the dust.

The pair end up suffering from ‘pounding headaches, rising fevers’ and struggling to breathe as Beerkus manages to make a break for some water.

Trapped as a second load of construction workers arrive for a night shift, the pair ended up in their ‘cave’ for 23 hours before they escaped.

And when UNILAD spoke to co-director Maria Bukhonina, she said it was just as anxious to see play out as it is to watch in the doc itself.

She explained: “We knew they got stuck. We knew they didn't know what to do. We knew they had to decide whether they're going to stay or leave and maybe not have a second chance.

“So, it was a pretty high, high stakes, very high intensity situation for 30 hours sitting outside waiting for them.”

Bukhonina added that it was ‘nerve wracking’ for them as they didn’t know if they’d end up getting harmed or arrested and jailed for months.

But, and spoiler alert, the pair managed to make it to floor 188 where they were greeted by warning posters of other rooftoppers who had been caught and imprisoned.

Not backing down at that point, Nikolau and Beerkus continue their ascent and an incredible record climb is finally achieved with 30 hours in Merdeka racked up.

You can see it all play out in Skywalkers: A Love Story on Netflix now.