{"id":31949,"date":"2016-08-30T06:00:49","date_gmt":"2016-08-30T09:00:49","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.rioonwatch.org\/?p=31949"},"modified":"2025-08-07T12:07:07","modified_gmt":"2025-08-07T15:07:07","slug":"gira-and-the-circus-of-life-circus-arts-and-social-transformation-in-praca-onze-film-review","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/rioonwatch.org\/?p=31949","title":{"rendered":"Gira and the Circus of Life: Circus Arts and Social Transformation in Pra\u00e7a Onze [FILM REVIEW]"},"content":{"rendered":"

Clique aqui para Portugu\u00eas<\/em><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

Part of Rise Up &\u00a0Care’s Reimagine Rio Festival<\/a>, the film Gira and the Circus of Life<\/em><\/a> (Portuguese title No Risco do Circo no Risco da Vida<\/em>) directed by K\u00e1tia Lund and Lili Fialho tells the story of the Circo Crescer e Viver<\/a> (Growing and Living Circus) in Pra\u00e7a Onze in central Rio<\/a>. Founded by old school friends Vinicius and J\u00fanior, the circus is a place of refuge, inspiration and personal development for young people in the local community and from across Rio de Janeiro.<\/p>\n

The circus stands in what used to be a half-abandoned parking lot which was used as storage for tow trucks at night and a place of\u00a0prostitution and drug abuse during the day. The circus moved here after Vinicius and J\u00fanior were evicted\u00a0from their original location\u00a0in Nova Igua\u00e7u<\/a>\u00a0in the Baixada Fluminense<\/a> and currently provides\u00a0training in circus arts for youth aged 7 to 17 as well as formal circus training and regular performances.<\/p>\n

\"Film<\/a><\/p>\n

Gira and the Circus of Life<\/em>\u00a0brings to the forefront the social importance of the\u00a0circus and its activities. At the film’s premiere in Pra\u00e7a Onze on August 11, Vinicius, founder of Circo Crescer e Viver, said\u00a0the film made him \u201cstart to understand the dimension of what we do.\u201d J\u00fanior echoed his co-founder’s feelings: \u201cNo one quite comprehended the dimension and complexity of the impact we have here.”<\/p>\n

Featuring\u00a0footage of kids doing\u00a0acrobatic jumps down the street or teaching each other new tricks, the film follows individual stories of some of the students in the\u00a0lead up to their most anticipated performance, Gira<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"Film<\/a><\/p>\n

Alessandro, also known as Gigante, is 15 years old and has been in the circus for eight years. Francisco, 13 years old, has been there for six years. The pair\u00a0delivered an impressive acrobatic performance preceding the film premiere. They both love the circus very much, viewing\u00a0it as a way to grow and learn, and a place to give expression\u00a0to their artist self.<\/p>\n

Djeferson, a man of large stature, defies all stereotypes when he enters the circus world as a trapeze artist. In 2003, after having tried out for the National Circus School and being rejected three years in a row, he sees his dreams disappearing. But with the launch\u00a0of the circus in Pra\u00e7a Onze in October 2004, his dreams were\u00a0reignited.<\/p>\n

\"Trapeze<\/a><\/p>\n

Rayssa has always been fascinated with biology but when she encountered the circus, her focus\u00a0changed. She was introduced to new sensations and immediately fell in love. A\u00a0calm and sensitive\u00a0girl, Rayssa speaks to the camera about the circus as if it were a person, one that has the power to change lives, and that brings her happiness.<\/p>\n

Tayane is moved by the opportunities the circus has offered her. Living in Santa Marta<\/a>, a favela in the South Zone<\/a> of Rio de Janeiro, she is now completing an internship with PROFAC<\/a>, the circus’ Program for Circus Artist Training. Rise Up & Care\u2019s filmmakers follow Tayane in her home in Santa Marta and document the emotional moments the circus has brought her.<\/p>\n

\"Tayane.<\/a><\/p>\n

Let\u00edcia has always been part of the circus, until she became pregnant and had to take a break. The support she receives and the celebration that occurs within her circus family at the birth of her child shows that Circo Crescer e Viver is not just an arts school\u2013it is a place that offers\u00a0a much-needed support network to the lives of these children and young adults.<\/p>\n

Vinicius reminds us of this and the history of Circo Crescer e Viver attests to it. The communities surrounding Pra\u00e7a Onze experiences many challenges. There is violence of all types, he says. \u201cThe fact of not having anything to eat, the fact of not having a suitable place to live, to sleep, the fact of not having shoes to wear, these\u00a0are all acts of violence.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Vinicius,<\/a><\/p>\n

Speaking at the film premiere, Vinicius thanked the Rise Up &\u00a0Care team for bringing visibility to the circus and community\u00a0and making it possible for residents to see their lives from another perspective: \u201cToday, these kids, their mothers and fathers and families, were all inside the circus watching themselves, watching their stories, the stories of their neighbors, in a way that is positive, poetic, human, with dignity, and that gives them value.\u201d<\/p>\n

Watch the trailer here:<\/h3>\n