Circus (2019)

Directed by: Bob Colaers | 16 minutes | short film, drama | Actors: Oscar Willems, Maarten Nulens, Darya Gantura, Bert Huysentruyt, Dorien De Clippel, Bente Quanten

It seems that you are reading it more and more often: traffic accidents in which the motorist drives on and leaves the victim seriously injured or even dead. Such a gruesome fact plays a central role in the Flemish short film ‘Cirque’, based on a screenplay by Bob Colaers and Cedric Ceglowski.

It all starts innocently enough. Two young men, somewhere in their twenties, end the evening in café ‘t Hoekje by arguing about who is driving home. They are the brothers Jonas (Oscar Willems) and Vic (Maarten Nulens). They both have some beers, but Vic eventually drives home. With some haste, because his heavily pregnant girlfriend is waiting at home.

On a poorly lit road, somewhere in the back, the duo hits something. Jonas takes a look and Vic answers the call from his girlfriend who calls just after, she is not feeling well. Jonas indicates that it was a bunny, but although the victim who was hit remains out of the picture, the viewer immediately feels that something is wrong with his statement.

How ‘Cirque’ will continue after that would be a shame to reveal, but the title can be explained in two ways. The adult cast acts quite well and the atmosphere is well captured. Intriguing film, which hopefully will teach potential drivers a wise lesson.