Alegria (DVD, 2000)

Alegría (2000, DVD)

This film is comprised of both dark shadows and bright joyous light. It is a celebration of love and life. The central plot is a classic love story between a melancholy street mime (played with grand pathos by the supremely gifted René Bazinet) and a glamorous circus singer, Julie Cox. The subplot deals with a Dickensian villain and unwanted children sold into slavery. The well honed performances by Cirque du Soleil entertainers add astonishing exhilaration to the proceedings and hauntingly arresting musical passages provide a spellbinding ambiance. The wondrous world of the circus is used as a metaphor for our lives on this harsh but beautiful plane of existence. I believe the producers of this lovely little motion picture would have benefited greatly by having named it "Life is a Circus" or given it some similar English title. It would then, most likely, have gotten far more attention and probably would have reached cult status.