Machete-wielding, bedraggled circus clown amidst vicious rebels. Some of the first words I read in the EIFF guide and I knew it was going to make my to-do list. Alex de la Iglesia’s The Last Circus marries the stunningly beautiful with the truly vicious as he explores one man’s life-struggle for happiness.
Strange as this may seem, the opening credits themselves struck me. Propaganda-ridden images of Madrid montaged with personal pictures, giant font assaulting the eyes, pulsating war-like music… when this movie began I was ready for it.
Following in the steps of Del Toro with Pan Labyrinthine-style, Iglesia’s dark tale resists classification, which was initially a bit of a problem for me. I like to know what I’m in for and while I was expecting horror what I saw was a bit of everything; one moment a horror, the next a comedy, then action. Happily though, the characters are expertly crafted – in particular our plump ‘Sad Clown’ protagonist and the tragically beautiful Bardot-esque trapeze artist – and it didn’t take me long to just enjoy the film for what it was.
Iglesia likes contrast in making his point and frankly, it works for him. The circus performers are both captivating and comedic in turn but this is not enough to save them from ruin in the grim reality of Franco’s regime. The movie not only explores, but seems obsessed with, finding sanity amidst the madness.
Happiness itself seems to evade the Sad Clown and the more he chases it, the further he alienates those around him. The resulting consequences make for a memorable finale.
Iglesia already pocketed a Silver Lion award for Best Director in Venice last year and I can’t help but feel he’ll have gained himself a cult following with this one.
Thursday 7 July 2011
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