While it doesn’t fall within our usual wheelhouse, when The Show of Shows was announced for the Fantasia Film Festival, I knew we had to check it out. I had heard about it for a few months, and after all the praise I had read, and its subject matter, I thought HorrorBuzz readers might get a kick out of it as well.

Created with the National Fairground Archive, The Show of Shows is a unique look at the history of the circus, using nothing but archival footage and home movies, to showcase a story that is never actually spoken aloud. While it is billed as a documentary, this isn’t the typical kind you’d find anywhere else. While most are peppered with narration to help move the story along, The Show and Shows instead uses nothing but a musical score by Sigur Ros to convey the action.

While this may seem like an odd choice, it is immensely powerful. Seeing the kaleidoscope of history flash across the screen is truly amazing, and the images speak for themselves. Though the circuses of today are quite different, it wasn’t too long ago that people paid good money to see the exploitation of children and animals. Where else can you see babies being juggled or lioness’ being forced to ride horseback?

The use of home movies (from the circus performers themselves), Edison films, and basically anything they could get their hands on, shows the circus from its early days, all the way up to the 1960s. It’s a celebration of the art, but even without narration, it is a commentary on the days gone by.

The editing of the film is top notch, and it really helps move everything along. At times, paired with the music, it even makes you feel uncomfortable. As in “Am I enjoying watching this? Did people enjoy this way back when? Why?” It really does a great job of showcasing the circus itself, but also a social commentary of the time.

Overall, for fans of the vintage era circus acts, and with an interest in the circus overall, this film is definitely worth a watch. There isn’t anything TOO disturbing about it, but it’s definitely worth a view.