CIRCUS ROSAIRE (DVD)

2 Stars
Year Released: 2010
MPAA Rating: Unrated
Running Time: 90 minutes
Click to Expand Credits:

Robyn Billey’s documentary focuses on the Rosaire family, the one-time leaders in British and American circus productions. Today, the Florida-based family finds itself alone in a dying sector of the entertainment world.

Focusing solely on animal acts, the Rosaires bring their collection of lions, tigers, bears and chimpanzees to small-time gigs at traveling carnivals and fairs – a far cry from their halcyon days when their audiences included of European royalty. And when gigs are not available, the family members have no problems assuming part-time jobs in construction or trucking.

To their credit, the Rosaires have gone out of their way (and deep into their wallets) to serve as a private rescue organization for wild animals that were abandoned after failed attempts at domestication – and their food bills alone keep the Rosaires from living like royalty. It is clear that every family member and their devoted employees love the animals in their care.

Yet it is difficult to watch their acts – most notably a muzzled bear jumping over small hurdles and a dismal comedy routine involving chimps dressed in comic human clothing – without realizing that the Rosaires have lost connection with modern concepts of entertainment.

Billey, who shot the film over five years, wound up with two discs worth of material for this DVD release. A second disc is devoted to bonus features, including a full one-hour circus performance, which accentuates the notion of providing too much of a bad thing.



Posted on May 10, 2010 in Reviews by
Buffer

If you liked this article then you may also like the following Film Threat articles:
Popular Stories from Around the Web

1 Comment

Tags:

One Comment on "CIRCUS ROSAIRE (DVD)"

  1. phyllis ann on Wed, 16th Jan 2013 11:01 pm 

    What moron wrote this????!!!!! The Rosaires are faBulous entertainers and fabulous people. If I could meet you in person I would spit in your classless, un educated, dead souled face. You are a complete loser, failure and an asshole.
    Thank you :-)


    Report Comment

Tell us what you're thinking...





Comments are governed by the Terms of Use of this Site. Click on the "Report Comment" link if you feel a comment is in violation of the Terms of Use, and the comment will be reviewed appropriately.