In this breathtaking and imaginative epic about the highs and lows of an artist’s life, the classical elements of a tragicomedy are uniquely blended with the magic of variety performance to tell the moving story of a circus family’s dreams and fears in the years following World War 2.

Bartosz the clown is dead–a bad omen for Circus Furioso, which has seen better days. Despite all obstacles, director Karlo Moretti and his performers work toward their next big show. Yet cracks are beginning to appear behind the façade. While the director uses all his strength to fight the gradual decline of his circus, his assistant Rudi is haunted by ghosts from the past. The siblings Camil and Adriana, who fled their homeland, have found a new home in Circus Furioso. As Camil enchants audiences with his magic, Adriana’s poetic pantomime sets spectators dreaming. But their carefree routine is abruptly shattered when an unknown thief steals all their savings. It seems likely that the culprit is someone within their own ranks. Performers Marie and Anton are firmly rooted in both their marriage and their careers, yet their aspirations could not be more different. While Anton explores the limits of his art with ambition and a drive for international success, Marie longs more and more for a family of her own. Amid these tensions between career and personal life, the question arises: are their shared goals truly compatible, and how long can their love withstand the pressure? Hans, the strongest man in the republic, finds himself increasingly battling the signs of aging. As his usual performances become more difficult for him, he secretly nurses feelings for the beautiful performer Marie, who gives him the confidence to be more than just the circus’s resident strongman. Events escalate when the ensemble learns of the imminent closure  of the circus. The time has come for all masks to fall and all cards to be laid on the table. The troupe has only one final performance left, and it must be unforgettable.

The feature film debut of award-winning author and director Marcel Maro–whose works have already been showcased at the Guggenheim in New York–explores the exhausting devotion artists bring to their creations. The film takes a humorous and sentimental look at what it means to live by and for art. Over the course of its elaborate, seven-year production, the film itself became a metaphor for its director. The work poses a question not only to its protagonists but also to its viewers: What are you willing to give for your dream?

Among the exquisite cast are Christian Wewerka, Jan Josef Liefers, Katharina Thalbach, Arash Marandi, Julia Dietze, Björn Meyer, Muriel Bielenberg, Nico Birnbaum, Rummelsnuff, Fresh Torge and many other major stars of German and international cinema. Captured in mesmerizing black-and-white images and wrapped in unforgettable music, FURIOSO is a masterful feast for the senses of any film lover. A nostalgic, philosophical journey into the past, returning to the golden age of circus arts.
Let the show begin!