CLOWNS

At last, a film on the history of clowns, these poets of the absurd, these “men in forming” as the poet Henri Michaux said. From the beginning of the 20th century with Charlie Chaplin, to nowadays with James Thierrée, his grandson, this film of archives relates the evolution of clowns across the world, draws filiations and marks breaking points. The whole range of the clownesque art is represented, from Popov’s or Slava’s obsession with perfection, to Fratellini’s or Semianyki’s clumsiness as art. A saga like a wild poetic gospel, which privileges their humoristic dimension but also underlines their tragic shadow. With complex characters such as Buster Keaton or Jacques Tati, which make us shiver by the accuracy of their take on the human condition and remind us, with Fellini, that clowns don the ridicule of mankind. This great parade of exceptional acts by Little Tich, Grock and many more, proves us that the clownesque art, this fleeting art, remains eternal…