Official Synopsis:
Bring home the magic, artistry and phenomenal acrobatics of Corteo, the latest Cirque du Soleil show, captured in hi definition! Corteo, which means 'cortege' in Italian, is a joyous procession, a festive parade imagined by a clown. The show brings together the passion of the actor with the grace and power of the acrobat to plunge the audience into a theatrical world of fun, comedy and spontaneity situated in a mysterious space between heaven and earth. The clown pictures his own funeral taking place in a carnival atmosphere, watched over by quietly caring angels. Juxtaposing the large with the small, the ridiculous with the tragic and the magic of perfection with the charm of imperfection, the show highlights the strength and fragility of the clown, as well as his wisdom and kindness, to illustrate the portion of humanity that is within each of us. The music, by turns lyrical and playful, carries Corteo through a timeless celebration in which illusion teases reality.
Our Take:
Cirque du Soleil (which is French for Circus of the Sun) is no ordinary three-ring Barnum and Bailey extravaganza. It features a completely human cast, using no animals, but instead using clowns, acrobats, and actors to tell a story, most usually with a theme commenting on the human condition.
The performance itself is captivating as well as intriguing. It does border on being a little too artsy at times, but that's really what Cirque du Soleil is: a form of art. It’s something totally different from anything you’ve ever seen before. To be perfectly honest, it’s refreshing to see something that doesn’t have "United States" stamped all over it. It's nice to get in a little culture between American Idol and NASCAR.
As for the way this extravaganza is filmed, it provides a view unlike what anyone in the audience could possibly have. Culled from two performances filmed in a single day, with additional footage added in for more in-your-face shots, there is nothing on the stage that you miss out on seeing. My only complaint is that there are actually too many cuts. I realize that at any one moment there are literally dozens upon dozens of things going on, and for a director or an editor, they want to be sure to capture as much as possible. But when it’s just cut after cut after cut, your eyes barely have enough time to process what they're seeing. I kept track during one of the performances, and there were about 22 cuts in one minute. That’s less than three seconds per shot. Granted, a stationary camera shot for the whole presentation could never possibly capture the wonder and magic of the performance; however, the way it was edited as film ultimately amounts to a big headache.
Since this is no ordinary big top circus, the DVD reflects that accordingly. Included are some bonus features that are sure to make ladies and gentlemen, and boys and girls of all ages cheer!
* Through the Curtain: An In-depth Look at Corteo (45 minutes) - In-depth does not do this feature justice. This featurette goes way beyond in-depth, taking a close look at the world of Cirque Du Soleil. Hear from the director, the creators, producers, cast and many others involved in the production of this spectacular show. Watch rehearsals, and see some rare behind-the-scenes footage at Cirque Du Soleil headquarters. Well worth a look for any fan or anyone interested in finding out how a show as grand as this is produced.
* A Day in the Life of Corteo Artists (20 minutes) - Meet Raul and Julia, two Cirque performers who have multiple roles in Corteo. Get out of bed with them early in the morning and see what happens in a day in the life of.
* Filming Corteo (8 minutes) - A look into the filming process.
* Bonus Scene: Teatro Intimo (8 minutes) - One of the scenes from the performance seen with a more up-close perspective.
* Photo Gallery (5 minutes) - A montage of still photos from Corteo, both behind the scenes and on stage.
My impressions from watching this performance vary. My brain’s left side thinks it’s brilliant, unlike anything I have ever seen before, while the right side isn’t quite capable of comprehending what it is that I’m supposed to be watching. Perhaps they can agree on one thing though; when it comes to anything produced by Cirque Du Soleil, you are sure to witness something spectacular.
Overall Picture:
Movie: C+
DVD: B
- Chris Lawrence
Staff Writer
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