CIRCO (ISA/Mexico 2010) **
Directed by Aaron Schock

A documentary about a Mexican travelling circus, first time director Aaron Schock’s film could very well be a fictionalized family drama.

The focus character is Tino, whose life is totally circus.  His wife, Ivonne ran away from her town to join him (out of love) at the circus at the age of 15.  They have 4 children and a niece who perform at the circus, the eldest excelling and clearly following in his father’s footsteps.  Tino’s parents (who won the circus) and grandparents are also from the circus.

Not much is shown on the training or interaction between the family and other circus employees.  Though hardships and financial problems are mentioned, these are never seen on screen and are just said in the voiceover.  Director Schock is more interested in the family drama.  The arguments between wife and husband over the importance of the family over the circus and also the fight between Tino’s brother and his parents are emphasized.  The more interesting acts about circuses like setting up the tent in a new village or dangers with the animal acts are neglected.  The best part of the film shows the circus driving their trucks around the back roads of Mexico.

Tino’s aim is to make the circus strong enough so that it can play the cities.  The aim of director Schock is to show the hardships of a circus family.  That he does, with an ending that likely can never be guessed by the average audience.  But the film grows monotonous after a while with a family drama that most have seen before, only with this one in a different setting in a circus.

The balancing act between work and family has to be sorted, and Schock literally shows the circus performers walking the tightrope or doing balancing acts while mentioning this fact!  How subtle!