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Almost everyone has been to the circus as a child, some do not miss the opportunity to visit it, becoming older. The circus attracts people with its atmosphere of magic and celebration: magicians, gymnasts, clowns and trainers seem to be people from another world … But outside of performances they are ordinary people, and they have their own problems.
From this selection you will learn films about the circus and get acquainted with the heroes of films with a difficult fate.
10 freaks | 1932
Ordinary people and those who have any deviations in physical development perform in the circus.
Cleopatra, a beautiful gymnast, accidentally learns that the midget Hans has an inheritance – a huge fortune. It costs nothing for her to be imbued with confidence in Hans in order to take away the inheritance, because he is in love with her and admires her beauty.
Because of Cleopatra, Hans leaves his girlfriend Frida, and plays a wedding with Cleopatra. But she loves another – the strong man Hercules, so she plans to poison Hans and take the money for herself.
But after an unsuccessful attempt to poison the groom, circus freaks (a hermaphrodite, a girl without arms, Siamese twins) intend to take revenge on Cleopatra. And their revenge will be cruel …
9. Clowns | 1970
Federico Fellini decides to arrange a real holiday for clowns from various countries. He goes to Paris, Italy to introduce us to the best clowns in Europe.
Artists can do whatever they want: break objects, set fire to and roll on the floor – they have every right to do this, the audience applauds everything they do with delight.
However, no one thinks that people with a difficult fate can hide behind a cheerful and decorated grimace …
8. Road | 1954
The film tells the story of human suffering and cruelty, about the complex and intricate relationship between the funny, slightly crazy, slightly holy, ridiculous Gelsomina – a girl with tousled hair and a rude, constantly sullen, massive and animal-like Zampano.
A film about different men and women who are far from each other, but, by coincidence, found themselves together.
7. Elephant Man | 1980
The story is based on real events and directed by David Lynch. In the 19th century, John Merrick lived – a man suffering from a rare genetic disease that causes severe transformations of the head and limbs. Because of his terrible appearance, he worked in a circus where people paid to see deformities.
Surgeon Trives, seeing Merrick, out of scientific interest, invites him to live in the hospital where he works. With surprise, Trives eventually discovers that his patient is an intellectually developed and spiritual person, he dreams of going to the theater, building paper towers …
Scientific interest develops into something more, the phenomenon gains fame in high society, and the queen herself offers to leave Merrick in the hospital forever.
6. Paper birds | 2010
The film tells the story of a group of itinerant performers: a young dancer named Marceditas, a coupletist Rocío, a ventriloquist named Enrique, an orphan boy named Miguel who is 9 years old, and an eccentric musician and comedian Jorge Del Pino.
Jorge is the head of this wonderful group of circus performers. All these people are forced to fight for their survival after the war. To do this, they perform in one Spanish outback.
Despite the troubles and hardships, the guys do not lose their sense of humor, they believe in the best and are inspired.
5. Shadows and fog | 1991
A black and white film that combines thriller, noir and comedy directed by Woody Allen.
At night, it is dangerous to walk along the gateways, because the strangler maniac is at large and attacks singles. The city is terrified as a serial killer roams the streets. The gates are shrouded in mist…
In a rainy city, different people will meet, their paths will cross. A petty employee decides to keep company with those who are looking for a criminal, but he himself becomes persecuted …
4. Chocolate | 2016
The story is based on real events, 1887. A black clown named Chocolate performs in a circus duet with a white clown.
The numbers aroused the interest of the audience, fame and popular love were gained. To attend the performance, people gathered in a huge queue, tickets were sold out in an instant.
Huge interest was caused by the fact that a white comedian made fun of Chocolate – a defenseless African American guy. He got ridicule and unenviable roles, and Georges applause and enthusiasm.
The triumphant takeoff was that the concert program included racist jokes. But later everything changed – Chocolate is talented and quite witty, besides, he dances well. Now he turns on the audience, they come to see him …
3. Alraune | 1928
Jacob ten Brinken is a professor who takes on the creation of a man from the root of a mandrake … It turns out the girl Alraune.
Heredity is not passed on to her, and everyone who is close to her experiences good luck. The professor sends her to a boarding school, Alraune has matured and, in the company of a young man in love with her, runs away from her place of residence to become part of a traveling circus.
Jacob meets Alraune a few years later and tells her that he is her father, but she does not remember him at all… Alraune finds the notes of a professor who introduced himself as a father, and from them he learns the whole truth about himself…
2. Aglaya | 2012
The film is based on real events during the reign of the cruel Ceausescu. Circus performers flee from Romania to the west. They hope to settle down in a new place.
In order to feed themselves, the artists have to put on rather risky numbers: for example, Aglaya’s mother, Sabina, has to hang on her hair in one of the numbers to attract the attention of the audience.
Every day Aglaya worries about her mother, fearing that one day something bad will happen to her. This fear is always with her, but one day the girl will have to replace her mother …
1. Prestige | 2006
Alfred and Robert were two illusionist magicians who competed with each other in London at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries.
At first everything went well – two young and inexperienced guys easily managed to surprise the audience, over time they got better and improved their professional skills.
But over the years, their tolerant and even friendly relations take on a different turn – a real war begins between men, they try to learn the secrets of each other’s amazing tricks in order to disrupt the number.
But their enmity affects not only them, but also the people around them, and even threatens their lives…