Almost everyone in childhood was in the circus, some do not miss the opportunity to visit it, becoming more adults. The circus attracts people with its atmosphere of magic and celebration: magicians, gymnasts, clowns and trainers, it seems, people from another world ... But outside the 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 discovers that the midget Hans has an inheritance - a huge fortune. She does not cost anything to inspire confidence in Hans to select the inheritance, because he is in love with her and admires her beauty.
Because of Cleopatra, Hans drops his girlfriend Frida, and weddings with Cleopatra. But she loves another - a strongman of Hercules, so she plans to poison Hans and take the money for herself.
But after an unsuccessful attempt to poison the groom, circus freaks (hermaphrodite, a girl without hands, 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: to break objects, set fire and ride on the floor - they have every right to do this, the audience enthusiastically applaud everything that they do.
However, no one thinks that people with a difficult fate can hide behind a cheerful and decorated grimace ...
8. The road | 1954
The film tells the story of suffering, tormenting a person, and cruelty, about the complex and intricate relationships of a funny, slightly crazy, a bit holy, ridiculous Jelsomina - a girl with disheveled hair and a rude, constantly sullen, massive and like a beast Zampano.
The film is about different men and women far from each other, but, by coincidence, found themselves together.
7. The elephant man | 1980
The story is based on real events, directed by David Lynch. In the 19th century, John Merrick lived - a man suffering from a rare genetic disease that causes strong transformations of the head and limbs. Due to his terrible appearance, he worked in a circus where people paid to look at ugliness.
The surgeon Trives, seeing Merrick, out of scientific interest offers 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 grows into something more, the phenomenon gains fame in the upper world, 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 wandering artists: about a young dancer named Marceditas, coupletist Rocio, ventriloquist, whose name is Enrique, about a boy - an orphan Miguel, who is 9 years old, and about the eccentric musician and comedian Jorge Del Pino.
Jorge is the head of this entire 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, believe in the best and are inspired.
5. Shadows and fog | 1991
A black and white film combining a thriller, noir and comedy directed by Woody Allen.
It’s dangerous to walk through the gates at night, because the strangler maniac is free and attacks loners. The city is terrified, because a serial killer walks the streets. The gates are shrouded in fog ...
In a rainy city, different people will meet, their paths will intersect. A small employee decides to keep company with those who are looking for a criminal, but who become persecuted ...
4. Chocolate | 2016
The story is based on real events, 1887. A black clown named Chocolate performs in a circus in a duet with a white clown.
The numbers aroused the interest of the audience; fame and popular love were gained. To attend the show, people gathered in a huge queue, tickets were sold out in an instant.
Great interest was caused by the fact that the white comedian made fun of Chocolate, a defenseless African-American guy. He got ridicule and unenviable roles, and Georges applause and enthusiasm.
The triumphal take-off was that the concert program included racist jokes. But later everything changed - Chocolate is talented and quite witty, and also dances great. 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 the mandrake ... It turns out the girl Alraune.
Heredity is not transmitted to her, and everyone who is close to her, are experiencing good luck. The professor gives her to a boarding house, Alraune has matured and, in the company of a young man in love with her, escapes from his 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 the professor who introduced himself as his father, and from them he learns the whole truth about himself ...
2. Aglaia | 2012
The film is based on real events during the reign of the cruel Ceausescu. Circus artists flee from Romania to the west. They hope to settle in a new place.
In order to feed themselves, artists have to put 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, afraid 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 are two illusionist magicians who rivaled each other in London at the turn of the 20th century.
At first, everything went well - two young and inexperienced guys easily managed to surprise the audience, over time they became better and improved their professional skills.
But over the years, their tolerant and even friendly relations take a different turn - a real war begins between the 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 those around them, and even threatens their lives ...