Before I watched this trick film by Segundo do Chomon on the "Saved from the Flames" DVD collection, I did read some of the comments presented here so I knew about the floor-disguised-as-wall illusion. Still, it's quite impressive to see these children and adults giving the impression they're doing unusual acrobatics in front of an audience supposedly watching this in a theater. The stencil-colors looked pretty good as well. I also learned from the other comments that these were Caucasians made up to look Japanese which I wouldn't have noticed by myself. So, no, I didn't find the characterizations to be offensive since it's just them doing "acrobatics". So on that note, I recommend Kiriki, Japanese Acrobats.
Kiri-Kis
(1907)
Kiriki, Japanese Acrobatics looked like an interesting early silent starring expert gymnasts
17 July 2009
Warning: Spoilers