Film still of O Grande Circo Místico (The Great Mystical Circus) © RR
Carlos Diegues pulls back the curtain to his Great Mystical Circus
O Grande Circo Místico (The Great Mystical Circus) is a smorgasbord of the best of the Brazilian arts scene. Inspired by the writings of activist poet Jorge de Lima, the film follows a circus family, set to a soundtrack by Chico Buarque and skilfully pulled together by Carlos Diegues. This is the director's first feature-length film in 12 years, and is, as a result, a highly-anticipated Special Screenings event.
Circus arts are often a family affair. The Kieps have being handing down their expertise in acrobatics, dance and entertainment from generation to generation since 1910. Mr Loyal, who answers to Célavi, tells the epic tale of this family of performers, intertwining the stories of their romances and adventures along the way.
The film is inspired by the poem Circus by Jorge De Lima, a writer who was politically active in the 1920s and 1930s. The poem had already been adapted into a musical in the 1980s by Chico Buarque and Edu Lobo, two musicians who make an appearance in this highly anticipated film from Carlos Diegues.
Audiences have waited 12 long years for the Brazilian director's latest feature-length film. Yet Carlos Diegues has been as active as ever. As one of the forefathers of Brazilian film, he had devoted his time to producing over 20 different projects, including Aquarius, in Competition in 2016.
A passionate Francophile who considers Paris his "second home", Carlos Diegues asked Vincent Cassel to work with him on the film. This marked a return to the actor's roots, with Cassel having trained at Annie Fratellini's circus school in his early years, yet it was also an opportunity to embark on a new cinematographic adventure in his adopted homeland. As the actor himself puts it, Brazil "has always had a special place in my heart".
