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The circus, a ring of daring, danger, spirit and lunacy can lead many a young child into a romantic fantasy of running away to join the troupe. But for Lorenzo Pisoni, director of this autobiographical documentary, CIRCUS KID, the reality of growing up as the golden child in his family’s cult classic Pickle Family Circus, his dreams were about running away from it. At age 2, Lorenzo began in the family business by walking into the ring of his parents’ Pickle Family Circus and becoming a star. By age 6, he had signed a contract with his father resulting in an unconventional father/son relationship, with his father as his coach, director, and clown partner. Archival footage of vaudeville-style acts and interviews with Pickle Family participants, including parents Larry and Peggy, daughter Gypsy and Pickle member Bill Irwin, are heartfelt and humorous. The film, however, doesn’t shy away from the dark side of the family’s dynamics. Witnessing serious family dysfunction and losing grasp of his childhood in the process, Lorenzo learns it’s not all fun and games. CIRCUS KID goes deep behind the scenes, exposing both the excitement and abuse, while delving into the complexities of the father-son relationship. Ultimately, it is father Larry who ends up running away while Lorenzo is still quite young. After 20 years, we follow Lorenzo as he tries to reconnect and gain a better understanding of the mysteries of the clown behind the face paint– the father, the man.
Time: 68 minutes
