Under The Bell Big Top: The Circus, Carnivals, and Other Travelin' Tales

A seven-film celebration of the ancient tradition of making a living by entertaining others. In The Magical Life of Long Tack Sam, director Ann Marie Fleming embarks on a trip around the world to learn about the acrobat, magician, comic, and linguist who was also her great-grandfather. The documentary Kings of the Sky follows a circus troupe of tightrope walkers from Tajikistan through China, and in the German film Artists Under The Big Top: Perplexed, Leni Peickert dreams about a new kind of circus, in which animals are treated more humanely and the art of the show is adapted for a modern world. The stunning Latcho Drom follows the gypsy people from India and through the Middle East to Eastern and Central Europe. Along the way, they absorb the music, dance, and costumes of various cultures, creating their own traditions. Traveling Sideshow: Shocked & Amazed offers an intimate view of the Lizard Man, Zamora the Torture King, George the Giant, and other freak legends. 10 Church St., Minneapolis, 612-331-3134; http://mnfilmarts.org/bell