MOVIE: CIRQUE DU SOLEIL: WITHOUT A NET
DIRECTED BY DAWN PORTER
RATING: 3 STARS (Out of 4)
By Dan Pal
Cirque du Soleil has been a mammoth machine for decades, that was until, like all shows, it closed down during the pandemic. The new documentary Cirque du Soleil: Without a Net traces the aftermath of the shut down and the weeks leading up to its return over a year later. We witness the slow building back up of this world-wide phenomenon through the eyes of many intimately involved with the show.
The initial scenes of the film suggest it will be focused on how the performers and producers survived the early days of lockdown. Several key figures are interviewed including acrobats, trapeze artists, swimmers, and dancers. They become the primary characters we follow throughout the film. It’s interesting to see some of their attempts at keeping their talents regularly oiled during their workouts at home. They train, they Zoom with each other…and then a year passes.
It’s a bit of a sudden shift in tone as the attention then turns to the rehearsals for the eventual re-opening. I felt a bit mixed on this as I thought there was a real story in following performers whose livelihoods and identities were completely upended due to COVID. I wanted to see how they managed their time, finances, and personal mindset given this major shift in their lives. When the film switches its gears a year later, it loses some of its drama. The film becomes centered on the individual stories of these performers as they get themselves back into shape and form for the next eight weeks. Compared to so many other recently released documentaries this feels a lot less compelling and significant. There’s not a lot of drama as the biggest issues seem to be focused on stage fright, getting new partners, disappointments, a few falls, and some technical snafus. Personal details are revealed about a couple of performers but these don’t seem particularly relevant to the goal at hand.
That said, the behind the scenes footage will no doubt intrigue many fans of the show. There are many different perspectives given of the training and rehearsals that offer viewers a chance to see how the show is put together, how the performers work with crew as they are performing, how everyone receives direction from stage managers, and how mishaps are handled. That peak inside is always fascinating to see. Of course, then the show opens and we see all of the anticipation and adrenaline that goes into a major night return.
Had the film stayed focus on the thirteen months when everything was closed down perhaps it would have had a hard time finding an audience. How many of us really want to be reminded of those uncertain days anyway? In that sense, perhaps the direction the filmmakers took makes this more of a promotion for the work behind the show and less about a blip in its long-storied history.
Cirque du Soleil: Without a Net will likely appeal to fans of the show (the one being staged is its highest growing show, O) and anyone interested in seeing what happens leading up to the re-opening of a big theatrical production. We get to see some pretty amazing stunts and nerve-tingling moments that might have a different effect when experiencing them live but still can offer some gasps in a movie theatre or in one’s living room.
Cirque du Soleil: Without a Net is currently playing as part of the DOCNYC festival. It is also available to be streamed via the fest’s website at docnyc.net through November 27th.
DIRECTED BY DAWN PORTER
RATING: 3 STARS (Out of 4)
By Dan Pal
Cirque du Soleil has been a mammoth machine for decades, that was until, like all shows, it closed down during the pandemic. The new documentary Cirque du Soleil: Without a Net traces the aftermath of the shut down and the weeks leading up to its return over a year later. We witness the slow building back up of this world-wide phenomenon through the eyes of many intimately involved with the show.
The initial scenes of the film suggest it will be focused on how the performers and producers survived the early days of lockdown. Several key figures are interviewed including acrobats, trapeze artists, swimmers, and dancers. They become the primary characters we follow throughout the film. It’s interesting to see some of their attempts at keeping their talents regularly oiled during their workouts at home. They train, they Zoom with each other…and then a year passes.
It’s a bit of a sudden shift in tone as the attention then turns to the rehearsals for the eventual re-opening. I felt a bit mixed on this as I thought there was a real story in following performers whose livelihoods and identities were completely upended due to COVID. I wanted to see how they managed their time, finances, and personal mindset given this major shift in their lives. When the film switches its gears a year later, it loses some of its drama. The film becomes centered on the individual stories of these performers as they get themselves back into shape and form for the next eight weeks. Compared to so many other recently released documentaries this feels a lot less compelling and significant. There’s not a lot of drama as the biggest issues seem to be focused on stage fright, getting new partners, disappointments, a few falls, and some technical snafus. Personal details are revealed about a couple of performers but these don’t seem particularly relevant to the goal at hand.
That said, the behind the scenes footage will no doubt intrigue many fans of the show. There are many different perspectives given of the training and rehearsals that offer viewers a chance to see how the show is put together, how the performers work with crew as they are performing, how everyone receives direction from stage managers, and how mishaps are handled. That peak inside is always fascinating to see. Of course, then the show opens and we see all of the anticipation and adrenaline that goes into a major night return.
Had the film stayed focus on the thirteen months when everything was closed down perhaps it would have had a hard time finding an audience. How many of us really want to be reminded of those uncertain days anyway? In that sense, perhaps the direction the filmmakers took makes this more of a promotion for the work behind the show and less about a blip in its long-storied history.
Cirque du Soleil: Without a Net will likely appeal to fans of the show (the one being staged is its highest growing show, O) and anyone interested in seeing what happens leading up to the re-opening of a big theatrical production. We get to see some pretty amazing stunts and nerve-tingling moments that might have a different effect when experiencing them live but still can offer some gasps in a movie theatre or in one’s living room.
Cirque du Soleil: Without a Net is currently playing as part of the DOCNYC festival. It is also available to be streamed via the fest’s website at docnyc.net through November 27th.