Circus School

Documentary

52 min, 78 min. and 107 min.

When is enough really enough? Follow the young chinese acrobats as they balance between the inhuman conditions of training and the exhilarating excitement of success.

Info

Acrobatics is considered as the national quintessence of China. It has existed on this land for over a thousand years. This film relates the hard experiences of a group of children before they become acrobats. The Flying Trapeze Group and Handstand Group are training hard for the national contest. Under the same immense pressure, however, they end up differently. Children of the trapeze group win the championship heroically after conquering a number of difficulties. The handstand group gives up the contest because of the training fatigue. Meanwhile thirteen-year-old Cai Yong is engaged in a life and death battle against his own weight. After a few shrinks, to everybody’s surprise, he gives a perfect first performance. This is a story about competition and survival.

  • Director

    Guo Jing & Ke Dingding

  • Producer

    Ke Dingding

  • Produced by

    ITVS

  • Original title

    Circus Schoo

  • Format

    52 min, 78 min. and 107 min.

  • Release

    2006

Awards & festivals

  • Jury's Grand Prix for Documentary

    13th Shanghai Television Festival

    2007

  • Scam International Prize

    Cinéma du Reel

    2007