"Circo das Ilusões" ("Circus of Illusion") is a slightly somber and intriguing short film that presents the daily routine of a cricus troupe
with small and careful acts where they act with themselves in quiet and solitary moments.
You see a clown hearing the famous sad opera "Pagliacci"
while putting on his makeup or a famous trapeze artists executing her movements while a nice song plays in the background, and she's really enjoying
herself in the dead of night. There are other moments as well when one actually thinks a story will take happen, maybe some mystery or an eventual
performance from the group; instead, we just the quitest moments before the show (of which we don't get to see, only imagine).
Marcelo Taranto is a nice experience, beautifully photographed and here we can stop and admire the circus performers like never seen before -
maybe except for some nostalgic movie here and there, or a documentary, and speaking the documentary this movie has the feeling of being one but
silent, without the talking heads or voice-overs showing the artists' feelings and emotions about what they like about their work or the excitment of
doing risky stunts. You just watch them having either some pause before work, trying to relax or just training for their next act before the curtains
open up.
I really liked the clown bits while hearing the dramatic song. He really feels the song, reflecting the idea of smile on the outside and
crying on the inside. He was highly expressive in spite of all the makeup wears. It's a very interesting performance. To some, I think it's fair to
say that the movie doesn't cover all the obstacles and challenges faced by those amazing artists; this movie is rather an introspective look at the
lonely moments of their lives before hitting the stage and gettings the laughs and applauses. 6/10.