When a young lady inherits a circus from her father, she decides to reform the family enterprise and turn it into a forum for socially relevant drama--scaring away all her customers. This playful film about the border between art and entertainment was directed by New German Cinema ringmaster Alexander Kluge and stars Hannelore Hoger (THE LOST HONOR OF KATHERINA BLUM).

DVD Features:

Keep Case
Full Frame 1.33
Audio:
Dolby Digital 2.0 - German
Subtitles - English
Additional Release Material:
Featurette - EXECUTION OF AN ELEPHANT

Distributor Notes: Hannelore Hoger (Lost Honor of Katharina Blum) stars as Leni Peickert in Alexander Kluge's compelling parable about art vs. entertainment, culture vs. commerce. Leni inherits the family circus after her father is killed performing a difficult act. Feeling that traditional carnivals are on their way out, she updates the show by turning it into a "reform circus," which consists of socially-relevant entertainment. Unfortunately, it fails to attract customers, and her circus goes bankrupt--twice. The story of Leni and her woes is slight, but the strength of Kluge's film is in the complex imagery, with its masterful montages, filmic references, and layers of meaning. Like the circus in the film, Kluge finds popular German cinema also in the throes of change--a viewpoint that turned out to be prophetic. Winner of the Golden Lion at the 1968 Venice Film Festival.

Source: Facets Multi-Media Inc.

Hannelore Hoger: 

Alexander Kluge: German Director/Novelist