MAD CIRCUS – EINE BALLADE VON LIEBE UND TOD

In 1937, in the middle of the Spanish Civil War, a circus performance is interrupted by Republican militiamen who take the performers off to the front. The son of one of the clowns grows up in the post-war years and becomes a clown himself, the sad one who takes the slaps. In 1973, in the final years of the Franco dictatorship, Javier joins a circus where the foolish Auguste, Sergio, is in charge – a drinker who beats his wife, the trapeze artist Natalia. Javier falls in love with her, and the rivalry between the two clowns turns into a war. “Mad Circus – Eine Ballade von Liebe und Tod” (original title “Balada triste de trompeta”) is a film by Álex de la Iglesia, Spain 2010.

De la Iglesia stages the story as a grotesque black comedy in which the violence of the clowns mirrors the violence of the country; Carlos Areces, Antonio de la Torre and Carolina Bang play the triangle. At the Venice Film Festival in 2010, under jury president Quentin Tarantino, the film won the Silver Lion for best director and the award for best screenplay. The film was shown at Around the World in 14 Films in Berlin in 2011.

Shown at the 2011 edition of Around the World in 14 Films.

All films 2011 · Film Archive