Wuqiao in Hebei Province, China is internationally known for its many circus artists which work in many countries all around the world. Many of its residents have a long tradition of working in the circus as clowns, rope artists or other kinds of performers making the International Circus Festival, which is celebrated every year, an attractive event for many tourist,s as its shows the best performers Wuqiao has to offer. In his short documentary “Wuqiao Circus” Austrian director Lukas Berger has traveled there to film the festivities and performances during the Chinese New Year, but also to offer an insight into the life of the performers off-stage.
“Wuqiao Circus” is screening at Braunschweig International Film Festival
If there is one aspect which adds to the enjoyment of Berger's short documentary it is the amount of skillful performances featured in “Wuqiao Circus”. From a rope artist performing a death-defying trick or a female performer playing multiple instruments at the same time, the feature certainly documents the versatility of the artists, their performances and their talents. Scenes such as the one described also emphasize the connection of the performer and the audience, the amount of perfection in each act which is rehearsed meticulously backstage. The resulting spectacle in the circus ring or on stage has become an essential factor in the lives of these people, as well as a source of excitement for the audiences.
Within the second axis of the documentary, Berger follows the life of the performers outside the limelight. At times, the camera looks inside one of the apartments, showing the artists going about their daily routine of housework, preparing dinner or simply relaxing while watching TV. Essentially the image of the circus amid the surrounding gray apartment blocks may be regarded as the essence of Berger's feature, highlighting the spectacle of the circus, the other-worldliness of it embedded within the banal, concrete routine of daily life.
“Wuqiao Circus” is a short documentary about the life on and off stage of circus performers in Wuqiao, China. While the portrayal of the skill and artistry is certainly fascinating, Lukas Berger's insights into the daily routine of the performers certainly establishes a contrast to the spectacle of the circus ring.
