Documentary (n.) a movie or television problem intended to document some aspect of reality, primarily for the purpose of instruction or maintaining a historical record that tells the facts about actual people and events.
Through the efforts of out filmworks division – first Télémagik (formed in 1988 to release the original 90-minute version of “Le Magie Continue” as well as various other Cirque shows up to Saltimbanco in 1994) and later with Cirque du Soleil Images (Télémagik was renamed CDSi in May of 1997 to better brand the multimedia company with its parent) – Cirque du Soleil has produced a variety of documentaries over the years. So many that it’s hard to keep up with them all, their availability and just where to get them.
Would you believe that as of this writing there are over twenty in all?
In order to help with the confusing status of many of Cirque du Soleil’s documentaries, we here at Fascination continue this overview. We took a look at the first of these documentaries in a previous installment (those produced from 1991 through to 2005), now we’ll conclude by examining those from 2006 through 2011. Don’t worry, there isn’t a quiz at the end but we do have a Cliff-Notes version of these documentaries!
Shall we conclude?
Lovesick (2006)
Dare to enter the sensual world of LOVESICK an adult-themed, reality-based drama that explores the eccentric lives lead by Sin City’s most provocative performers.
Filmed over two years and set in Las Vegas during the creation of the cabaret-style production, ZUMANITY, ANOTHER (later “THE SENSUAL”) SIDE OF CIRQUE DU SOLEIL, LOVESICK discloses the disturbing reality of the talented and entrancing artists who put their flesh and audacity centre stage to create this edgy new show.
Meet Alex, the flirtatious Cuban stripper; Joey, the sassy but endearing New York City drag queen; Laetitia, the elegant and ambitious British dancer; Jonel, the audacious debutant; Andrew, the Director of Creation; and Spymonkey, the spontaneous clown quartet all of whom will challenge their own limits and be forced to redefine their identities.
Sexy, poetic and intensely erotic, LOVESICK slips inside a startling universe where men dress up as women, brides perform in staged orgies, and love affairs are exposed under the show’s glaring spotlights.
“Lovesick” was released as a stand-alone region one DVD on May 30, 2006 and is currently in print and available for purchase on the Cirque du Soleil Online Boutique.
The Mystery of Mystère (2007)
Cirque du Soleil presents “Mystery of Mystère!”, a captivating documentary on Mystère, the critically acclaimed theatrical production playing at the Treasure Island in Las Vegas. Meet world renowned anthropologist Philippe Frey, geneticist David Suzuki, physicist Fred Alan Wolf and astrophysicist Trinh Xuan Thuan as they boldly explore The Mysterey of Mystère through each of their fascinating and distinctive scientific field of expertise.
As the documentary plays on, the show and its mythology are continuously explored through seemingly less and less relevant conversational clips from the scientists, and the meaning of their contributions become more and more mysterious (read: boring). Discussions about the origin of man and his relationship to the desert notwithstanding, how do relativity theory and quantum physics concepts relate?
Other bonus features include:
• “Franco Dragone meets the Scientists” (13:33) — As the title suggests, Mystère’s Director joins the crew poolside at Treasure Island and an even more banal conversation with these universal experts ensues.
• “Food for Thought” (16:00) — This selection gives the scientists a chance to voice their concerns about topics foremost on their minds, while characters from the show interact with the desert backdrop behind them.
• “Impressions and Interrogations” (2:37) — Earlier we’ve heard from the scientists about what the mystery of Mystère is, now it’s time to hear from the artists who put on the show: why does Mystère remain popular after all these years? We hear from Brian Dewhurst (Clown), Florence Gaillard (Dancer), Eligiusz Skoczylas (Chinese Poles), Ashley Jean Lamb and Vladislav Lissenkov (Korean Plank), Michelle Cronje (Dancer), Arnaud Bertrand (Dancer), Paul Cameron, and Steel Wallis in this very short montage.
The “Mystery of Mystère” is a stand-alone DVD (#508747, UPC: 4-00005-08747-9), released on September 1, 2007. It is currently in print and available for purchase on the Cirque du Soleil Online Boutique.
FLOW (2007)
Cirque du Soleil presents FLOW, a poetic immersion into the Depths of “O” and over the meandering Colorado River! A metaphorical musing of human presence on the blue planet is raised as the artists of “O” express and explore the intimacy they share with the four elements: Fire, Air, Earth and Water.
Drawing a cue from Mystery of Mystère (submerging the show’s characters in real-life settings like the Colorado River and surrounding desert) but taking it in an entirely different direction (no scientists!), FLOW takes us on a journey of discovery: how water relates to the show and how the show and its space relate to water. There are wonderful insights into the creative aspects of «O» within – quips with creators and artists alike – as well as beautifully shot scenes from each of the accompanying acts.
The disc’s bonus features are also equally compelling:
• “Steps below the Surface” (6:09) — A wonderful birds-eye view (or is that scuba-eye view?) of the carefully crafted ballet that ensues below the stage in the depths of the pool. Watch the water change from blue to red to green as we witness the changes from a point of view that only a select few have seen… until now.
• “Water in the Desert” (9:51) — “Water is the memory of the world and theater is the expression of memory” and many other insights are gleaned from this piece, a look into the Creation of «O». We hear from Director Franco Dragone and Director of Creation Gilles Ste-Croix, as they sit pool-side at the Treasure Island and reminisce about creating Cirque du Soleil’s first aquatic show.
• “Russian Swing” (3:51) — Complete from beginning to end, see the entire Russian Swing number as presented in the show!
“FLOW: A Tribune to the Artists of «O»” is a stand-alone DVD (#508746, UPC: 4-00005-08746-2), released on September 1, 2007. It is currently in print and available for purchase on the Cirque du Soleil Online Boutique.
A Thrilling Ride Through Koozå (2007)
Starting in early 2007 and taking us through to the official premiere, we embark on a journey that starts at the humble beginnings of some of Cirque’s creative pioneers as they share their personal voyage – and a few revealing anecdotes – that highlight the multiple stages of the creation of a live show. We hear from Director David Shiner the ideas and thoughts behind what kind of show he was looking to create (one that brought us back to Cirque’s roots – thrills, chills and emotions) and all the work that he put in to conceiving a show of this caliber.
We’re taken on the journey the costume, make-up, and set designers must undergo in order to bring the spectacle to life. We meet the clowns and acrobats that bring Koozå to life as these audacious performers discuss their experience and share a few insights into this daring acrobatic show – from studio rehearsals to the big top raising, to settling into everyday Cirque life to the world premiere in Montreal! And what did Guy think about the show a month before the first public performance? Watch and see!
“A Thrilling Ride through Koozå” was released as a stand-alone region zero DVD on December 13, 2007 (#509122, UPC: 4-00005-09122-3) and as a “Bonus Feature” on the “Cirque du Soleil Presents Koozå” DVD (#509941, UPC: 8-43277-01738-4), which was released on June 24, 2008. Both are currently in print and available for purchase at the Cirque du Soleil Online Boutique.
LOVE: All Together Now (2008)
All Together Now is a feature-length documentary that chronicles the making of The Beatles and Cirque du Soleil collaboration project LOVE. The film details the story behind the unique partnership between The Beatles and Cirque du Soleil that resulted in the creation and launch of the stage show and the double Grammy-winning album of the same name. The film is dedicated to the memory of Neil Aspinall, a former assistant to the band and head of Apple Corps.
“All Together Now” faithfully recounts how the LOVE project came into being, borne from the personal friendship between George Harrison and Cirque du Soleil founder Guy Laliberte. George saw how the twin talents of Cirque’s artistry and The Beatles’ music could be fused into something new and totally original. The title of the DVD refers to The Beatles song “All Together Now”.
The director, Adrian Wills, records early meetings between the Cirque & Apple Corps’ creative teams, as well as contributions from Sir Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, Yoko Ono Lennon and Olivia Harrison discussing how The Beatles’ music can be used in a different way. The film touches on the decision to utilize the combined talents of Sir George Martin and his son Giles Martin to produce what became a 90-minute soundscape created from The Beatles’ multi-track recordings and how this new audio adventure was being quietly worked on in the famous Abbey Road Studios in London, England whilst the first creative ideas for the show were being formulated in Montreal, Canada.
These early stages of the project were all filmed, as were the first rehearsals in the theatre of The Mirage in Las Vegas, which was completely rebuilt with a one-of-a-kind sound system and complex round staging to house the Love show. George and Giles Martin, the show’s musical directors, were involved with the Cirque du Soleil creative team, performers and backroom staff.
It wasn’t all “plain-sailing” and there has been no attempt to disguise some of the disagreements that took place along the way regarding how some of the songs would be portrayed visually. These creative differences, a necessary part of the overall process of bringing “LOVE” to its most vibrant life, illustrate the participants’ love and respect for the music and vision of The Beatles.
The ‘All Together Now’ documentary provides fascinating insight into the creative skills and passion that went into making this project a groundbreaking critical and commercial success.
The DVD won the Grammy Award for Best Long Form Music Video, in 2009, for the director, Adrian Wills, and the producers, Martin Bolduc and Jonathan Clyde. The Beatles did not receive the award as they did not perform in the video. They did however receive an award in the same category several years earlier for the Beatles Anthology Video release.
Bonus Features include:
• Changing The Music” (22:00): An in-depth look at the decision to rework and remix the Beatles music for the show.
• “Music in the Theatre” (09:00): A look at the process of creating the LOVE show’s unique audio design in the theater.
• “Making ‘LOVE'” (10:00): A backstage pass to explore the design of LOVE, including the art direction, costumes, props, screen imagery and the use of The Beatles’ voices in the stage production and soundtrack.
“LOVE: All Together Now” was released as a stand-alone region one DVD on October 21, 2008 (#509992-17067-90, UPC: 5099921706790). It is currently in print and available for purchase on the Cirque du Soleil Online Boutique.
ZED in Tokyo (2010)
Lamenting the closure of Cirque du Soleil’s ZED? Then relive the fantasy of this expansive and epic show through “ZED in Tokyo”, a fantastic peek into Cirque du Soleil’s world of the Tarot. Discover the lyrical, sensitive spirit of the ZED show, a creation captained by stage and screen director François Girard. By way of a series of vignettes, ZED in Tokyo follows the team through the creative process, both on stage and in the wings, as they make their way from Montreal to the busy streets of Tokyo. This documentary portrays the strange and edifying encounter between the land of Cirque du Soleil and the Land of the Rising Sun as expressed by the work of creators, artists and technicians from several different cultures who joined forces to stage a truly extraordinary show.
Filmed in 2010, this 67-minute peek into the world of ZED is not as expansive as we would like, but it is complete. A number of the show’s elements make it to the screen here, even if just for a moment’s glimpse, giving those who have seen the show a wonderful flowing memory of what was. Though “ZED in Tokyo” will not replace a full-fledged recording of the show, this documentary does a much better job at capturing the essence of ZED’s epic nature than does “Crossroads in Macau” for ZAIA. Fans of the show are also in for a treat; Japan is the land of anime and the documentary comes complete with its very own anime-style introduction montage, which helps takes us out of the real world and into the metaphysical world of ZED.
Special Features include “The Tarot”, a look into Tarot and how it inspired the creation of ZED early on; “The Composer”, a brief look at composing ZED with René Dupéré (Cirque’s long-time musical collaborator); a “Then & Now” segment, a brief video montage covering all of Cirque du Soleil’s creations, from 1984 through to today; “Let Your Talent Shine”, a montage from Cirque du Soleil scouting; “On-Stage Career Opportunities, an advertisement for Cirque du Soleil’s Casting department (interested in joining the Cirque? Pay attention – here’s how!); and “A Message from ONE DROP”.
“ZED in Tokyo” was released as a stand-alone region one DVD on October 15, 2010. It is currently in print and available for purchase on the Cirque du Soleil Online Boutique.
Flowers in the Desert (2010)
Over the last 25 years, Cirque du Soleil has captured the imaginations of 100 million spectators in over 300 cities on five continents with an original mixture of circus arts, theatre, choreography, live music, imaginative costumes, technical innovations and an artistic vision that continues to challenge and entertain.
Since 1993, Cirque du Soleil has produced seven original, permanent shows in Las Vegas, creating a garden of delights that has transformed the very nature of entertainment in this desert oasis. Now the artistic universe of Cirque du Soleil is captured in a new performance special, CIRQUE DU SOLEIL: FLOWERS IN THE DESERT, an extraordinary entertainment experience that was part of special programming premiering on PBS stations in December 2010.
“CIRQUE DU SOLEIL: FLOWERS IN THE DESERT presents mesmerizing performances, recorded in high definition, of Mystère, “O”, KÀ, LOVE, and their latest production, Viva ELVIS, as well as sneak peeks of Zumanity and CRISS ANGEL Believe. Behind the scenes interviews and backstage footage allow the viewers to explore the creative process behind the performances.”
CIRQUE DU SOLEIL: FLOWERS IN THE DESERT explores a garden of exotic flowers growing in the Nevada desert. Flowers open to reveal rich, imaginative worlds within, and as we enter one of these worlds, a Cirque show begins. This transformation provides our entry into and exit from the different worlds created by Cirque du Soleil in Las Vegas.
“Flowers in the Desert” is available on DVD through a generous gift to your local PBS station. As such it is not available for direct purchase through other means.
ZAIA: Crossroads in Macao (2011)
Inspired by the vastness and diversity of the cosmos, writer and director Gilles Maheu soaked up a few dozen cultures to create a show imbued with the vibrant colors and flavors of the world: ZAIA. A great challenge awaits the artists and craftspeople of this odyssey, who will have to relearn how to move and communicate. They will explore new territories and make the “Crossroads in Macau” their meeting point. Discover the spectacular and poetic world of ZAIA.
This documentary, filmed in 2010, takes viewers on the journey from initial spark to premiere of ZAIA at The Venetian Macao. What makes this show different from previous efforts by Cirque du Soleil is the market in which it is presented – China. Follow the trials and tribulations of a cast and crew trying to give Cirque du Soleil a foothold in this Chinese gambling Mecca while at the same time finding inspiration in the show’s theme: space. And though I did not get a chance to see ZAIA performed live, I’ve gained a much better appreciation of the show by watching this documentary. It’ll never replace a live viewing of the show, nor will it replace a recording (if one should ever be produced); however, “Crossroads in Macau” will give you a taste of what the show is like, even if it is only 68 minutes long and representative of the show before its huge change in its last year.
Special Features include “Trampoline and Double Teeterboard (X-Board)” and “Chinese Poles on Globes”, full recordings of those acts respectively as if performed in front of a live audience; a “Then & Now” segment, a brief video montage covering all of Cirque du Soleil’s creations, from 1984 through to 2011; “ZAIA – Experience the Unforgettable”, the show’s video trailer; “On-Stage Career Opportunities”, an advertisement for Cirque du Soleil’s Casting department; and “A Message from ONE DROP”.
“Crossroads in Macao” was released as a stand-alone region one DVD in 2011. It is currently in print and available for purchase on the Cirque du Soleil Online Boutique.
In this series we’ve listed and spoke about quite a number of documentary programs Cirque du Soleil has either produced or released over the years. And if you’re lost about which ones are currently in print and/or available for purchase, look no further. Here’s the “Cliff Notes version”:
[Not Available in Any Form]
.) Quel Cirque
.) Saltimbanco's Diary
.) Run Before you Fly
.) 20 Years under the Sun
[Released as Stand-Alone Products]
{Out of Print}
.) Truth of Illusion: Alegría (VHS)
.) Full Circle: The Making of Quidam (VHS)
.) Journey of Man: Behind the Scenes (VHS)
.) A Baroque Odyssey (VHS/DVD)
.) Inside La Nouba (VHS/DVD)
{In Print}
.) KÀ Extreme (DVD)
.) Lovesick (DVD)
.) Mystery of Mystère (DVD)
.) FLOW: A Tribute to the Artists of "O" (DVD)
.) A Thrilling Ride through Koozå (DVD)
.) LOVE: All Together Now (DVD)
.) ZED in Tokyo (DVD)
.) Crossroads in Macao: ZAIA (DVD)
.) Flowers in the Desert (DVD)
[Released only as a DVD "Bonus Feature"]
.) In the Heart of Dralion - Dralion DVD
.) Making of an Angel - Varekai DVD
.) Through the Curtain - Corteo DVD (and Corteo CD Bonus)
Happy hunting!
