THE INVISIBLE CIRCUS
US, 2001, 93 minutes, Colour.
Cameron Diaz, Jordana Brewster, Christopher Eccleston, Blythe Danner, Camilla Belle, Patrick Bergin, Isabel Pasco, Moritz Bleibtreu..
Directed by Adam Brooks.
An oddity.
In the 70s an 18 year old girl (Jordana Brewster) retraces her dead sister's steps in Europe. The sister (Cameron Diaz) had left home with her boyfriend (Christopher Eccleston) in the late 60s, a mixture of hippy and social rebel. In retracing her journey (and trying to share her sister's experiences with drugs, with her boyfriend), she learns of her sister's involvement with underground terrorist groups and her ultimate suicide.
In recreating the 70s, the film shows us a very idiosyncratic period that looks now more than a little absurd. By not distancing the action from a contemporary perspective, it seems as if we are sometimes watching a film of the time, so that the absurd touches make the film somewhat dated and absurd.
1. The story of the 1970s, in retrospect? The ethos of the time? In the United States? Europe? Revolutionary movements?
2. The title, its reference?
3. The picture of the United States, its lifestyle at the time, the family, the house, the beach? The musical score?
4. The contrast with Europe? Paris and its style? France and the countryside? Berlin? Portugal and the coast, the beauty?
5. Two sisters, the bonds between them, memories of their father, his death from leukaemia, the relationship with their mother? The father gone, idealising him? The bond with their mother? The flashbacks to sequences of the young girls and their life, with their parents?
6. Phoebe, her age, a romantic image of Faith, memories of the bond between the two, the postcards from Faith and their stopping? The news of her suicide? Phoebe and her puzzled attitude, discussions with her mother? Imagination and freedom? To retrace her sister’s steps? The mother trying to persuade her not to go?
7. The portrait of Faith, young, exuberant, at home, in love with Wolf, leaving? Life in Europe, the freedoms, love, the drugs? Berlin, the interest in the Red Army, involvement, the tests, the terrorist activities, her failing? The reaction of the group? Difficulties with Wolf? Travelling to Portugal? Her death and the reasons?
8. Phoebe, arriving in Paris, meeting Wolf, the time differences, his look and appearance? Meeting Claire? Phoebe’s hesitance, asking about Faith, learning? With Wolf, the attraction, the drive to Portugal? Wolf’s story, Phoebe believing it or not?
9. Wolf’s explanation of Faith’s death, the flashback?
10. The picture of the 70s revolutionary groups, the types, lifestyle, behaviour, terrorism, the Red Army in Berlin?
11. The purpose of Phoebe’s journey, settling the memory of her sister, the importance of the journey for herself?
