Cirque Du Soleil: Without a Net follows the resurgence of Cirque du Soleil after the most difficult period in its history. When Cirque du Soleil moves to reboot its flagship production, O, more than a year after an abrupt global shutdown, both performers and crew members face uncertainty as they work to return to their world-class standards in time for the (re)opening night curtain in Las Vegas. With unprecedented access, filmmaker Dawn Porter captures the dramatic personal highs and lows of the world’s most famous circus act on its journey back from the existential brink.
In Cirque du Soleil: Without a Net, filmmaker Dawn Porter takes viewers behind the curtain to see how the sausage is made – specifically O, the brand’s flagship production and highest grossing single show, which has been playing to sold out crowds at the Bellagio since 1998. The stunning show centers around a 1.5 million gallon pool that becomes a playground for athletic swimmers, aerialists and elite divers who dazzle with their breathtaking skills.
Although “the show must go on” has always been the mantra of anyone working in live entertainment, O and every other Cirque du Soleil show around the world was forced to come to a sudden and complete halt in March 2020 when the pandemic hit. Cirque du Soleil was forced to lay off 3400 performers and declare bankruptcy. In the documentary, President and CEO Daniel La Marre talks about how devastating those decisions were and how he worried, “Would they ever forgive us?”
The short answer is of course, and Porter follows a few performers through lockdown as they struggle both personally and professionally. “It’s really difficult to live without purpose,” says a trapeze artist. The performers try to maintain their skill levels and remain optimistic but, as one sums up, “We all want intermission to be over.”
When, 400 days later, they’re finally given the okay to go back to work, they have eight weeks to prepare for the relaunch of the show. Yes, they’re rusty and there are lots of glitches but, for us as spectators, this adds to the drama and makes us really appreciate just how hard – and dangerous – what they’re doing is since they make it look so effortless.
It’s amazing to watch the individual performers do their thing but it’s mind-blowing to see the production come together and prove that the whole truly is even greater than the sum of its parts. Who knew that there’s an entire world happening underwater, with a team of technicians and scuba divers making sure everything goes smoothly and everyone is safe? Even more fascinating is the binder full of Plan Bs for anything that could happen – a technical malfunction, an injury – so the stage manager can turn the show on a dime without the audience ever knowing. If only the rest of the world could work this way.
What really stands out, though, are the people themselves. It’s easy to forget, when watching the spectacle of a Cirque du Soleil show, that every single gravity-defying move is choreographed and performed by a regular human being. This documentary celebrates that and makes you think about the fact that these performers had to wear masks for weeks while practicing risky routines and that they always have to be paying complete attention, even if they’ve had a bad day or aren’t feeling well.
It also makes you want to buy tickets to the closest Cirque du Soleil show playing near you so you can experience the joy and wonder from a whole new perspective. And that, in itself, is a major feat.
Cirque Du Soleil: Without a Net (2024)
Directed by: Dawn Porter
Production Design by: Tim Sturtevant
Cinematography by: Bryant Fisher, Chris Hilleke, Gregory Taylor
Film Editing by: Jessica Congdon, Dave Marcus
Animation Department: Molly Schwartz
Music by: Nathan Halpern
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for some strong language.
Distributed by: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)
Release Date: July 25, 2024
