Book presentation Der Zirkusfilm

The circus film is one of the most productive and variegated genres in the history of cinema. In the framework of the presentation of his book, Der Zirkusfilm (Schüren), Matthias Christen presents a selection from a total of more than 600 films. Urban Gad's AFGRUNDEN (DK 1910) features not only the silent movie star Asta Nielsen in her first leading part, but with its notorious gaucho dance also marks the transition from the revues of early cinema to the circus film as an independent genre. Grigori Alexandrow's ZIRK (USSR 1936) gives evidence that not only spectacles, big emotions, private intrigues and devious crimes have their place in circus films but also world politics: German and Soviet artistes have it out with each other in the ring, anticipating the upcoming global political conflict. Both main films are accompanied by shorts, AFGRUNDEN by a historical revue and ZIRK by Jonas Mekas’ NOTES ON THE CIRCUS (USA 1966). (March 29)