In 1950, the Brumbach Circus defected en masse from Communist East Germany to the West. "Man on a Tightrope" is a fictionalized recreation of this brave event. A few details, such as the name of the circus and the location (Czechoslovakia instead of East Germany) were changed....and I have no idea why. As for the circus performers, these folks in the movie actually ARE from the Brumbach Circus!
Karel Cernik (Frederic March) is the man who runs the Cernik Cirkus. I can't say he's the owner because the Communist government in their great wisdom took ownership of the circus and graciously allowed Cernik to run it. But the government keeps telling Cernik what he can and cannot and must do with the circus...and it's getting harder to do their jobs with such interference. It gets so bad that the normally apolitical Cernik is concocting a plan to defect...along with the entire circus!
While I think the pacing of the film could have stood some improvement, the movie is exciting and a great glimpse into the bad old days of the Iron Curtain. For younger folks, they might be confused by all this...and folks get a nice history lesson if they watch the movie. Worth your time...and currently on YouTube if you wish to see it.
Karel Cernik (Frederic March) is the man who runs the Cernik Cirkus. I can't say he's the owner because the Communist government in their great wisdom took ownership of the circus and graciously allowed Cernik to run it. But the government keeps telling Cernik what he can and cannot and must do with the circus...and it's getting harder to do their jobs with such interference. It gets so bad that the normally apolitical Cernik is concocting a plan to defect...along with the entire circus!
While I think the pacing of the film could have stood some improvement, the movie is exciting and a great glimpse into the bad old days of the Iron Curtain. For younger folks, they might be confused by all this...and folks get a nice history lesson if they watch the movie. Worth your time...and currently on YouTube if you wish to see it.