“CIRCUSBOY”, a German documentary, focuses on the Arena Circus owned by the Frank family in the circus business for some 200 years.
“CIRCUSBOY” recently had its world premiere at The Berlin International Film Festival.
The Arena Circus represents a long-standing German travelling circus tradition. It is a circus one will not see in North America perhaps because of the reputation of a traditional circus for animal mistreatment.
At Arena Circus there are acrobats, jugglers, aerialists, clowns, a ringmaster and horses, camels and llamas subject to regular veterinarian inspections to ensure proper treatment. I see no evidence of the atrocious treatment of animals I saw in 1970’s Communist Eastern Europe by travelling East German circuses.
Santino is a rambunctious and energetic eleven-year-old boy learning the circus trade from his circus community and 80-year-old great grandfather Ehe Frank one of Europe’s great ringmasters. Beyond learning the trade, he learns about life and the experiences of Ehe laced with morals and observations how circus people have been treated today and yesterday including the Nazi persecution of “travelling people” which included circus people, Roma and Sintis.
In addition to the harsh treatment of circus people there are legends Ehe relates to Santino including the famous elephant bull Sahib.
Santino is shifted from school to school a result of the continually changing locations of Arena Circus but he takes it in stride telling his classmates about his life in the circus and his insistence he is in it for life and his progeny as well!
While Santino’s academic path is choppy the sense of community within his family and his circus family is unwavering and supportive.
Well timed and simplistic animation by Magda Kreps and Lea Majeran might appeal to young children watching “CIRCUSBOY” and its soundtrack has a definite circus vibe with tuba, clarinet and accordion.
While North America revels in the pseudo “circus” of Cirque du Soleil it can be said the documentary is about real circus that clings to life. Arena Circus is circus. Cirque du Soleil is entertainment.
Directed by Julia Lemke and Anna Koch. You can watch the trailer here https://vimeo.com/1054141443/3c1858d566
RKS 2025 Film Rating 76/100.
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