I was wondering if this was influemced in some way by the French film, The City of Lost Children. The concept of kids being taken off the street, to a central place seemed similar. I also was unaware that Cirque Du Soleil wrote dark stories, their shows always seem so lighthearted. The Goth in me, is very impressed.
shareI believe you're confusing the title you listed with the 1945 French classic film entitled: "Children of Paradise," or as it's known as in France: "Les enfants du paradis." Cirque du Soleil's "Alegria" starred René Bazinet, who during his 9 years as a street performer in Paris drew inspiration from and emulated the late, great mime Jean-Louis Barrault, the much lauded star of "Children of Paradise," in his role as 19th century French mime, Baptiste Debureau. The French version of the Italian 'Commedia dell'arte' pantomime clown - PIERROT - was said to have been originally developed by Baptiste Debureau. Although Franco Dragone, the director of "Alegria," was motivated by Bazinet's gift for mime to make the movie version, based upon the tent show of the same name, he claimed any similarity to "Children of Paradise" was unintentional. He has essentially said that "Alegria" - the film - was based purely on René Bazinet's talent and his persona, which is a combination of childlike wonder and overwhelming melancholy. Oddly enough, while paying his dues in Paris throughout the '80s, Bazinet was tutored for a time by the great mime Etienne Decroux, who also coached Jean-Louis Barrault and international mime legend Marcel Marceau. Decroux, coincidentally, played the part of the Baptisite Debureau character's abusive father, Anselme Debureau, in "Children of Paradise," too. 😉
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