Set behind the curtains of entertainment, “The Beauty Circus” tells the tale of the struggle of a circus performer named Beauty (Jaya Ahsan). The title of the movie in itself might have a hint of colourfulness but don’t get distracted by it as someone’s life revolves around the circus and everyone related to it.
The Beauty Circus is a National Film Grant winning film directed by Mahmud Didar. The cast includes some of the top stars of the industry: Jaya Ahsan, Ferdous Ahmed, ABM Sumon, Gazi Rakayet, Humayun Sadhu to name a few. The film has been under development for almost five years now but was it worth waiting this long for; especially with the recent release of “Hawa” (2022) as it sets the stage for the future of the film industry of Bangladesh? Here’s my opinion on it.
The Story
I’m pretty sure most of us can relate to watching circuses growing up and enjoying them. Being able to watch it on the big screen felt really nostalgic. However, the story hardly revolves around the circus. It is more about Beauty and her path to redemption. The story had a strong goal as to where it was going to reach but there have been some obvious changes in direction. Some of the time, the direction it was taking felt way off the mark to where it was supposed to go. There have also been some artistic choices that felt completely unnecessary as it felt like they didn’t fit together that well. It felt like the amount of time wasted on the side story could’ve been reduced to better portray the main goal. The story is obviously unique and its portrayal is something to admire but overall, it felt lacklustre.
The Screenplay
A film can easily be marked as a masterpiece or a flop through its screenplay. In the case of “The Beauty Circus,” the film had a strong ground when it comes to having a lead as to what the story is about and how it is going to play out; however, there has been a huge gap between the story and the screenplay. Some of the shots felt completely out of place which threw me away from the film and left me wondering about the motive behind the shot. Some really wonderfully executed shots hooked me to the film but it didn’t manage to hold it for long due to the usage of some completely redundant shots. Amid all the hiatus, the director has certainly delivered the amusement and the horrors one would think of.
The Acting
It is not often you get to see your childhood hero playing out as a villain but fortunately, I had the opportunity to live to see that. I grew up watching tons of films and dramas of Ferdous (even sharing the same name) but have never seen him on the other side. It was thrilling and I have to admit it, I loved his antagonistic acts. As always, Jaya Ahsan never failed to amaze me and with the addition of some of the big names of the industry like Gazi Rakayet, ABM Sumon, Tauquir Ahmed, it was truly an amazing cast that made every moment enjoyable.
The Visuals
Not to bash on the director’s artistic view but to me, the film consisted of some very crisp visuals as well as some very questionable ones. If not properly envisioned, the shots may look out of place or sometimes horrible. Though “Beauty Circus” has managed to draw the line between the two, it simply wasn’t enough. There have been some stunning visuals along with the cinematography, which I truly admire, as well as some truly ordinary and lacklustre visuals that the avid film lover like me may refuse to like.
The Sound Design
The sound design of a film can plainly make it or break it. Along with its visuals, “Beauty Circus” had some really good sound design to which I have no real complaints except for some of the voice-overs and transitions. It seemed to me as though some of the sections were exaggerated and gave a sense of feeling that something huge was going to take place but in reality, it was but a minor incident. Sometimes, the voice-over felt unrealistic and gave a sense of disconnection from the film. In short, the ambience was well set up, just not well executed.
Conclusion
“Beauty Circus” certainly has its strengths and flaws but overall, it felt like the flaws overpower the best parts of the film. The vision of Mahmud Didar came to fruition as his directorial debut has been pretty successful. If you are looking forward to watching something this weekend, “Beauty Circus” may not thrill you but you may not be too disappointed.