Film Archive

Cirkus Rwanda

Special Events 2018 / Cirkus Rwanda / Czech Republic, Slovak Republic 2018

Rosťa Novák, the face of Cirk La Putyka, has decided to train for a performance with a Rwandan troupe of acrobats. But can they get on together, two teams that are used to such different work tempos and styles? A unique documentary that takes a peek behind the scenes of the thrilling show Hit, Tell the Difference from Prague’s Letní Letná festival.

Synopsis

At first he was afraid to go. Because the plane would crash, he’d die of malaria, or get shot. In the end, however, Rosťa Novák, the face of the Prague ensemble Cirk La Putyka, set out for Rwanda to work on a project with local acrobats. Their leader is Eliseé, who survived the Rwandan genocide as a child and now trains a group comprised of orphaned children. The two troupes begin rehearsing in Rwanda and Prague in order to put together a true circus for the 21st century, one that brings together very disparate backgrounds. But in Michal Varga’s documentary, which culminates in a performance at last year’s Letní Letná festival, discipline and spontaneity sometimes butt heads. Such a clash, however, can end up shattering preconceived ideas about both Africa and Europe.

Jan Škoda

About the film

80 min / Color, DCP
World premiere
Director Michal Varga / Screenplay Michal Varga / Dir. of Photography Jakub Jelen / Editor Alexandra Jonášová / Producer Marek Novák / Production Xova Film, s.r.o. / Coproduction nutprodukcia s.r.o., Česká televize, Rozhlas a televízia Slovenska - RTVS / Contact Xova Film

About the director

Michal Varga (b. 1981, Ostrava, Czechoslovakia). Selected filmography: Far from Maidan (2014), Nature’s Teachers (2014), Heading out for Congo-Brazzaville (2018), Circus Rwanda (2018)

Contacts

Xova Film
Sudoměřská 893/52, 130 00, Praha 3
Czech Republic
E-mail: [email protected]

Guests

Marek Novák
Producer

Jan Gogola
Film Crew

Michal Sikora
Production Manager

Michal Varga
Director