roland-scialom Review of The Clown

The Clown (2011)

Chaplinesque adventure in the back country in Minas Gerais

[5 November 2011]

This movie is a Chaplinesque adventure which takes place in the rural back country of Minas Gerais, in Brasil. It has moments of laughter, great tension and tears. Great tension because of the circus life and work of the staff at the circus seems to be all the time on the brinks. If a hurricane topple the tent or the truck breaks and no one have money to fix it, it would be the end of the story... A sad end. Tears, because I wept in the final scene, because it is a grand finale: (1) Benjamin shows up in the circus ring, reunited with his father, an old clown, amid the action of the show, (2) the little girl enters triumphantly in the ring with her costume of fearless heroine (who is not afraid to cockroaches) sword in hand, beaming with joy and pride ... it's the new generation of circus people which is starting there; (3) the rest of the troupe behind the scenes weeps of joy for the return of Benjamin, return which is the very re encounter of the troupe with itself. I wept because this finale transmitted to me the following feelings: despite our fragility, if we are together in the battle, we love each other, do our jobs with solidarity, dedication and love, we can overcome all difficulties and our Joy will be eternal. Selton managed to produce a Chaplin adapted to current times in the rural back country of Minas Gerais. Very talented director and actor.