90 min feature

Director and script Janez Burger

When the deafening rattle of war dies away, we see Stevo, scared, running about the field where traces of warfare can be seen and where his house, likewise badly damaged, stands. He is left alone with his daughter Dunja and son Small as his wife has been hit by one of the grenades. When it seems that the worst is over, a terrible rumble can be heard from a distance and keeps nearing the house as a threat. Stevo discovers, confused, that the vehicle which stopped in front of the house is not a killing machine but a rather unusual vehicle of Circus Fantasticus. Getting know of the group of bizarre but utterly human characters changes the life of Stevo and his children, and they join the circus caravan which sets off on a new journey.

CIRCUS FANTASTICUS is a film without dialogues. The actors in this film don’t speak, but that does not mean it’s a silent film. My intention is to make an audio-visually fascinating film without dialogue. Words are meaningless in war. If they had any power, there would be no wars. The film is structured around nine chapters; each tackles one of the essential elements of human  xistence: Fear, Fire, Life, Air, Love, Water, Death, Earth, God. It is an author’s film which tackles

the question of how to survive in such an environment. It is set in a war-zone which is not linked to any space or time. It could be happening a hundred years ago or three hundred years from now. Anywhere. In Slovenia or Iran. In France or Russia. In Bosnia, or Argentina, England, California, Japan...

Film is international co-production with Staragara Production as delegate producer and co-producers Fastnet Films from Ireland and Cineworks from Finland.

Actors:

Leon Lučev, Pauliina Rasanen, Ravil Sultanov, Luna Mijović,Rene Bazinet, Daniel Rovai, Yannick Martens, Natalija Sultanova, David Boelee, Slava Volkov, Xauxue Zhanng, Enej Grom, Devi Bragalini and Marjuta Slamič.

Director of Photography:

Diviš Marek, Art Director was Vasja Kokalj

Make – Up Designer: Alenka Nahtigal

Costume Designer: Alan Hranitelj

Sound Recordist: Robert Flannagan.

Film is financially supported by Slovenian Film Fond, Irish Film Board, Finnish Film Fundation, Eurimages and european programme Media.

Official site www.silentsonatamovie.com