½

USA 2012
Starts February 7

Directed by: Andrew Adamson         
Writing credits: Andrew Adamson
Cast: Erica Linz, Igor Zaripov, Lutz Halbhubner, John Clarke
Length: 91 minutes

Mia (Linz) crosses the country tracks after a train thunders past, passing under the Circus Marvelous signpost into a world of amazing sights, sounds, and exhibitions. Entering the big tent, the Ringmaster (Halbhubner) introduces the star attraction: Once Mia and the trapeze artist eyes meet, Cupid commands. Until the Aerialist’s (Zaripov) tumble that takes them down the rabbit hole. Separated, each travel in and out of tents encompassing worlds within worlds through the fantastical illusory Cirque du Soleil terrain, in their quest to reunite.

Since its 1984 inception in Quebec, Canada by two ex-street performers, Guy Laliberté and Gilles Ste-Croix, Cirque du Soleil has taken the circus world to a whole new level – sans animals. Its distinguishing ingenuity—coalescing theatre with poetical characters, staggeringly graceful acrobatics and awe-inspiring make-up and costumes—has garnered numerous prizes and distinctions, including a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Worlds Away is a compilation of performances: Kà, Mystère, and from their bar lounges in Las Vegas, Nevada – The Mirage and the Aria Resort & Casino. Sim Evan-Jones and Dirk Westervelt edit, with a score of animation studios seamlessly combining the various components. Benoit Jutras’ original music is predictably haunting; additional period tracks are from Elvis and the Beatles—a good portion of the middle section seems to be homage to the Beatles—among others. Although the 3D often distracts, an advantage of this distinctly visual film is you will never be so up-close and personal, catching every nuance from every angle of the performers physical control, their minutely applied make-up and their costumes intricacy, at a live performance. (Marinell H.)