The Cirque: An American Odyssey

In 1988, the Cirque du Soleil toured the United States and set up its big top in New York City - a grand three-ring circus in itself! - garnering rave reviews. Behind the scenes, artists working in the fledgling Quebec circus talk about what it means to them to be a part of this success, and also the price they pay for sharing the American Dream.

1989

0h 50min

TMDB watch Home page

Top Billed Cast

Michel Barette
Amélie Demay
Denis Lacombe
Guy Laliberté
Angela Laurier
Francine Dolorez Leonard
Yves Neveu
Abe Pollin

Similar movies

Chuy, The Wolf Man
Chuy, The Wolf Man
25 Sep 2015
Chuy, The Wolf Man
Jesus 'Chuy' Aceves and a dozen living members of his extended family suffer from the very rare condition of congenital hypertrichosis, meaning they were born with excessive hair on their faces and bodies. Due to their appearance, they suffer from discrimination in all areas of their lives: the children are made fun of at school and abandoned by their 'non-hairy' parents, and the adults cannot find work unless they choose to exhibit themselves as freaks in circuses. This moving and visually arresting documentary is a portrait of Chuy and his family members. It examines their day-to-day lives and their struggle to find love, acceptance and employment.
A Farra do Circo
A Farra do Circo
30 Nov 2013
A Farra do Circo
This documentary highlights the evolution of Brazil's Circo Voador venue from homespun artists' performance space to national cultural institution.
Circus Movements
Circus Movements
30 Mar 2019
Circus Movements
An examination of bodies, movement and the stillness of landscape brought to you by the entrancing Circus Debre Berhan.
Escape 360
Escape 360
20 Jun 2021
Escape 360
One man, one camera, one goal...to capture the essence of adventure. An experimental, often abstract new type of filmmaking process creating color rich visuals combined with a lush soundtrack that grounds the project. A unique cinematic experience.
Who is Weary Willie?
Who is Weary Willie?
01 Mar 2021
Who is Weary Willie?
"Who is Weary Willie?" explores the life of the once-famous circus character Weary Willie and his story tied to controversy and confusion over identity between his creator, Emmett Kelly Sr., and his son, Emmett Kelly Jr.
Cirque du Soleil: The Mystery of Mystère
Cirque du Soleil: The Mystery of Mystère
01 Jul 2013
Cirque du Soleil: The Mystery of Mystère
Cirque du Soleil presents The Mystery of Mystère, a captivating documentary that explores how arts and science merge together using Mystère, the critically acclaimed Las Vegas show at Treasure Island, as the outlet for this message.
Fast, Cheap & Out of Control
Fast, Cheap & Out of Control
03 Oct 1997
Fast, Cheap & Out of Control
Errol Morris’s Fast, Cheap & Out of Control interweaves the stories of four men, each driven to create eccentric worlds from their unique obsessions, all of which involve animals. There’s a lion tamer who shares his theories on the mental processes of wild animals; a topiary gardener who has devoted a lifetime to shaping bears and giraffes out of hedges and trees; a man fascinated with hairless mole rats; and an MIT scientist who has designed complex, autonomous robots that can crawl like bugs.
The Circus: Premiere
The Circus: Premiere
13 Jan 1928
The Circus: Premiere
Footage from the premiere of Charlie Chaplin's 1928 film 'The Circus'.
Cirque du Soleil: La Nouba
Cirque du Soleil: La Nouba
02 Nov 2004
Cirque du Soleil: La Nouba
In the magical world of La Nouba, dreams become reality and talent turns the ordinary into the extraordinary. La Nouba is, literally, a waking dream come true – clowns, ballerinas, trapeze artists, an incredible BMX bicycle act – and much more.
Cirque du Soleil: Without a Net
Cirque du Soleil: Without a Net
13 Nov 2022
Cirque du Soleil: Without a Net
As Cirque du Soleil reboots its flagship production, O, more than a year after an abrupt shutdown, performers and crew members face uncertainty as they work to return to their world-class standards in time for the (re)opening night in Las Vegas. With unfettered access, filmmaker Dawn Porter captures the dramatic journey of the world's most famous circus act on its way back from the brink.
Une histoire complètement cirque
Une histoire complètement cirque
16 Sep 2019
Une histoire complètement cirque
No overview found
Cirque du Soleil: Quidam
Cirque du Soleil: Quidam
26 Dec 1999
Cirque du Soleil: Quidam
A young girl has already seen everything there is to see and her world has lost all meaning. Her anger shatters her world and she finds herself in the universe of QUIDAM, where she is joined by a playful companion, as well as another mysterious character who attempts to seduce her with the marvelous, the unsettling and the terrifying.
Cirque du Soleil: Alegria
Cirque du Soleil: Alegria
19 Nov 2001
Cirque du Soleil: Alegria
Alegría is a mood, a state of mind. The themes of the show, whose name means "jubilation" in Spanish, are many. Power and the handing down of power over time, the evolution from ancient monarchies to modern democracies, old age, youth - it is against this backdrop that the characters of Alegría play out their lives. Kings' fools, minstrels, beggars, old aristocrats and children make up its universe, along with the clowns, who alone are able to resist the passing of time and the social transformations that accompany it.
Cirque du Soleil: Varekai
Cirque du Soleil: Varekai
07 Oct 2003
Cirque du Soleil: Varekai
Icarus is the main character of Varekai, who falls to the ground, breaking his legs as he does. He is suddenly in a strange, new world full of creatures he has never seen before. Parachuted into the shadows of a magical forest, a kaleidoscopic world populated by fantastical creatures, this young man sets off on an adventure both absurd and extraordinary.
Timoteo's Fabulous Ragged Circus
Timoteo's Fabulous Ragged Circus
04 Sep 2014
Timoteo's Fabulous Ragged Circus
The comedian Timoteo is the leader of a cross-dresser circus that has toured through Chile for forty years. Today his advanced age and health are reason for concern regarding the continuity of the show.
Pagliacci
Pagliacci
26 Apr 2018
Pagliacci
The documentary “Pagliacci” celebrates – in a poetic way – what it means to be a clown. The film addresses philosophical and symbolic questions about man’s need to laugh at himself. In a sensorial and emotional mix, the film starts from what is most human and true: laughter.
TUNAHAKI
TUNAHAKI
09 Mar 2010
TUNAHAKI
Tunahaki is the extraordinary story of nine gifted orphans who are acrobats. We follow their journey as an American volunteer takes them from Africa to study with Cirque du Soleil in Las Vegas. They end up touring the States and raising hundreds of thousands of dollars, more than enough to build a permanent home. But how have the kids' experiences in America affected them? And how will it change things back home in Tanzania? Tunahaki's heartfelt journey gives us something new to ponder as we reach across the world to help those less fortunate—is it always the right thing to do?
Guantanamo Circus
Guantanamo Circus
01 Jan 2013
Guantanamo Circus
A surreal look at the day-to-day life of American soldiers stationed in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba through the eyes of a traveling circus troupe cleared to perform there.
Circus Baobab
Circus Baobab
28 Feb 2001
Circus Baobab
French filmmaker Laurent Chevallier always wanted to make a documentary on an African circus, but there were no native circuses on the continent. So Chevallier decided to help found a circus in Guinea. 36 young people were chosen from the city of Conakry to participate in what would become Circus Baobab. A group of French circus artists were imported to train the participants for 2 years in acrobatics and trapeze. Then the group took their show on the road. This film is Chevallier's account of the troupe's inaugural tour in Guinea, from March 1 - April 11, 2000.
Sempre più difficile
Sempre più difficile
02 May 1981
Sempre più difficile
This documentary is about the Italian small family circus, based on the old street theatre of the Commedia dell'Arte. Since World War II, they have diminished in number and today hardly exist anymore. They simply can't compete with modern times entertainment, symbolized by television. The film portrays and follows the Colombaioni family, six brothers and two sisters, their children and grand children. Most of them work in their own small circus(father, mother, children). Two of the brothers, Carlo and Alberto left the circus and now have a theatre show, based on their improvisation skills that they learned in the circus. The family is known by their collaboration with Frederico Fellini and Dario Fo. They appeared in many a Fellini movie -o.a. La Strada, Le Notti di Cabiria and I Clown.