Release: 2011
Starring: Carlos Areces, Antonio de la Torre, Carolina Bang
Director and Writer: Álex de la Iglesia
Plot: Javier, the son of a clown, dreams of following in his father’s career footsteps, but has seen too much tragedy in his life – he’s simply not funny and is only equipped to play the role of the Sad Clown. He finds work in a circus where he befriends an outlandish cast of characters, but as the Sad Clown he must take the abuse of the brutish Happy Clown Sergio, who humiliates Javier daily in the name of entertainment. It is here that he meets Natalia, a gorgeous acrobat, and abused wife of Sergio. Javier falls deeply in love with Natalia and tries to rescue her from her cruel and violent husband, unleashing Sergio’s jealousy. But Natalia is torn between her affection towards Javier, and her lust for Sergio. With neither man willing to back down, this twisted love triangle evolves into a ferocious battle between Sad Clown and Happy Clown, escalating to unbelievable heights in this absurd, shocking, irreverent and unforgettable film. – Movie Clips
Thoughts: Labeled a comedy (for God’s sake why?!), The Last Circus is a walking nightmare for any coulrophobic; creepy sad clowns, creepy happy clowns, creepy angry violent clowns! The Last Circus looks like a surrealistic foray into the gritty, creepy, nasty side of the circus. Criticized for an overabundance of violence and gore and with political and societal commentary relevant to the Spanish Franco period, The Last Circus looks to be a worthwhile film if you can hand the… clowns.
