Cirque du Soleil - Fire Within (TV Series)

Amazon.com

This addictive, Emmy Award-winning series has all the human turmoil of reality television, but the subjects have actual talent--it's a 13-part documentary about the young acrobats of Cirque du Soleil, watching them struggle with the physical rigors and emotional demands of creating a new show (the acclaimed Varekai). Fire Within focuses on eight performers, among them Gareth, a temperamental Brit whose sculpted physique features multiple tattoos; Stella, a young African American trapeze artist who's a bit of a diva; Oleg, a 35-year-old Russian circus professional trying to shift his talents to dance; Olga, a Cirque veteran as a contortionist, being given a starring role in this new show. Skillfully edited, Fire Within follows the performers along the stressful path from auditions to opening. The show gains surprisingly intimate access into their lives, capturing the strength and vulnerability of people whose bodies are their art--and not everyone rises to the challenges they face. The process of making a show like Varekai isn't always pretty or gentle; if an act isn't working--such as when Gareth and his acrobatic partner Ashley have trouble finding their balance for a piece called the Icarian Games--the act will simply be cut, and the performer fired. Fire Within is a remarkable warts-and-all document of frustration and ingenuity. After each episode, you'll eagerly jump to the next one to learn what happens next. --Bret Fetzer

Description

The 2003 winner of the Emmy® for Outstanding Nonfiction Program (Alternative), this 13-episode television series offers an intimate look into the dreams, trials and aspirations of a core group of performers involved in the creation and launch of Varekai™, the live production from Cirque du Soleil.

Customer Reviews:

Entertaining but overly dramatic.......2006-07-11

Many of the comments already made regarding certain dramatic elements not making sense are right on point, particularly the lead singer for the show. I won't give away an details but you're left scratching your head with elements that unfold that just don't make sense. I also believe that in an effort to play up the drama, they actually led me to have less respect for them by giving me the impression they were unprepared for the premiere of the show. Whether they were as unprepared as it was made out I don't know. Also, the Trump-style Guy Laliberté, who they made out as the only decision maker, the end all be all of the Cirque really just turned me off. I've had too many bosses like that(I'm actually not a kid just didn't want to create an amazon account), and I know organizations don't last long with that tyrannical style of management. But Cirque seems to be doing fine, so maybe that's just me. But man did the narrator let you know every time Guy Laliberté was in the room and everybody collectively crapped their pants and bit their nails....it came off as way over-dramatic. All that being said, if you're a fan of Cirque you will undoubtedly enjoy this series taking a look into the process of creating a Cirque show.

Great behind the scenes view of a spectacular show!.......2006-03-10

I loved Fire Within when it was on TV. I am a huge fan of Cirque and loved that we were able to look into what goes into making a show. I am usually more interested in back story after I've seen the show, but this was such a great introduction to Varekai that I knew that show was going to be terrific. While some people complain that there is a lack of character development for a large part of the cast, I feel that these people weren't trying to play characters, they were themselves through and through and to much admiration of the creators they didn't force anything that wasn't going to naturally happen. The reunion and updates of what the cast is doing now is quite surprising and a very good addition to the show.

Amazing, though not thorough.......2005-07-08

As a huge Cirque Du Soleil fan, I was thrilled to see the Bravo documentary series on DVD since I had missed it when it aired. I watched the entire series in a matter of two days--I was hooked immediately as it is such a long and cut-throat, yet fascinating process.

My negative criticism is that I feel like the show could have been developed so much more. We only meet a fraction of the people involved in Varekai; I would love to have spent some time getting to know the clowns (in my opinion, the magician and his assistant are one of the best parts of Varekai and I was hoping to see them in this series), gotten to watch the younger ones and how they were handled through the process. They also neglected to finish some story lines. I don't want to ruin a plot line for you so I'll be vague (though it still might give it away), but no problem finding another singer after all of the frustration in the first half of the series?

Eventhough I feel like so much stuff was left out that could have been amazing to watch, I still think this one-of-a-kind glimpse into the process is phenominal, and I do recommend the purchase for anyone interested in Cirque and their behind-the-scenes struggles and processes.

worthwhile but also disappointing.......2005-03-03

I can imagine much hand-wringing on the part of Cirque faithful who read this. I love seeing Cirque perform -- have seen 2 different live shows and 2-3 others on DVD myself -- and think they're superb. However it has to be said that while very interesting and entertaining at times, this series is also frustratingly inconsistent in many ways, and in the end one cannot help but wonder how tough the competition was the year it won its Emmy, with these problems.

But first, yes, it is interesting and entertaining and worthwhile, most especially for Cirque fans (who may like about anything involving the troupe) but also for others who don't know much about the whole Cirque phenomenon. The reality show-type format may not get much more interesting than this, in fact, except for lurid, tasteless fare in other genres. And as a humanizing, behind the scenes look at some of whatt (and who) goes into a Cirque show, it's a good testament to the Cirque spirit.

Unfortunately there are some consistent problems that make the series continue to fall short of its promise. I would say the most damaging is simple inconsistency from point to point or show to show -- sometimes even within the same show -- in terms of what's going on as the people in focus try to get Varekai in shape for its opening. One of the simplest, most illustrative examples is in episode 8. Hopefuls Garth and Ashley, who have been struggling throughout to make the grade and get their act into the show, are under pressure at a big dress rehearsal in front of the downright Napoleonesque Cirque owner (and it's made clear throughout that there is just one guy at the top with all the final say). They perform and the narrator comments that they did well. Nevertheless, after a few intervening scenes, we are abruptly seeing a phone call discussing them and cutting their act due to their struggling, and the narrator suddenly comments that they may never realize their dream. ???

This is not an isolated case: contortionist Olga joins the troupe and the show about 5 episodes in, and is touted as an established star with years of experience who will lead the show. But then an episode or two later, suddenly she is the focus of concern, as she is seen continually dragging in practice and her unhealthy lifestyle is called into question. Much hand-wringing ensues, and the narrator again comes forth with dramatic phrasing boding ill for the future. The issue is then dropped without resolution.

These things continue throughout the series on smaller scales, too -- the pressure on the female trapeze troupe to be more "sexually mature" in their act and their rightfully suspicious reaction to what that may imply, for example, which is also left behind, of the comment at the end of show 5 or 6 that the "dangerous" Russian swing may be brought in, even though you have to try damned hard to ever get a glimpse of it later -- make it hard to understand what is going on and hard to commit to the show or even to believe the narrator. And the narration is definitely overly melodramatic, detracting enotionally from enjoyment of the whole process being observed, even if it does help with simple explanation of many things. It can be so notorious that it brings to mind the situation with Ridley Scott's Blade Runner and the lousy, campy narration the studio forced him to add to the original release, which he blessedly removed in the director's cut.

One other serious difficulty in my view is the omission of attention to the music. Obviously not every performer can be covered without turning the thing into a mammoth documentary. However in the physical acts obviously an attempt has been made at including a variety, even so much so that some members doing a particular act (the other women on the trapeze, the other Icarian acrobats) are basically left out. So why so little focus on the music? One of the great strengths of Cirque du Soleil is consistently high quality, original music, and a lot of lip service and some screen time is dedicated early on to talent scout Michel's search for just the right singer. This is said to be very important, yet very little time is paid to that aspect of things once the singer has (supposedly) been found. Indeed as he himself comments, something is wrong because he only gets to spend half an hour with the show's composer during over 3 months of work on the show. More attention to the musical aspect of things would not have more appropriately represented the spirit of Cirque du Soleil and would have been more consistent with the rest of the show's approach.

These aspects keep the series from living up to its very high promise, but again it will definitely be worthwhile to Cirque fans and probably interesting to many others who are either interested in finding out about Cirque or such performing arts or who would like to see some more interest and quality in a reality show setting.

Great series!.......2005-01-16

This documentary series is definitely something all Cirque fans HAVE to see, especially those who like Varekai. Mobster describes the miniseries well. With a look behind how Varekai was made, from the auditions before they even had a name for the show, until the magical premiere, It'll be a big Cirque fan pleaser. This was the first time I'd seen it (I didn't catch it on TV), and I loved it. With all the ups, downs, and real life drama (and trust me, this isn't the stereotypical "reality TV show". This really is "real life."), I really got into it. It brought out many emotions from excitement to sadness, laughter to being on the brink of tears. It was just a wonderful show. It really gives you a larger respect for what the performers are doing on stage. It lets you see a "human side to Cirque" as one of the Atherton twins said. And, along with the show, you also get an extra episode--The Reunion. A reunion of all the original performers. I loved every bit of these DVD's. I definitely recommend it if you're a fan of Cirque. :)

Average customer rating:

For Love of Vincent, Watch this Movie.
Both Stars are for D'Onofrio
Changing places

Fires Within
Starring: Jimmy Smits , Greta Scacchi , Vincent D'Onofrio , Luis Avalos , and Bertila Damas
Director: Gillian Armstrong
Manufacturer: MGM (Video & DVD)
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00005R5GF
Release Date: 2001-12-26

Description

From the director of My Brilliant Career comes this "sizzling romance" (Los Angeles Times) featuring Jimmy Smits ("NYPD Blue"), Greta Scacchi (Jefferson in Paris) and Vincent D'Onofrio (Full Metal Jacket) in "a classic romantic triangle [with] emotional impact" (Variety). When her journalist husband Nestor (Smits) is imprisoned in Cuba for his politicalbeliefs, Isabel (Scacchi) flees the country with her daughter. Saved off the shores of Miami by a fisherman (D'Onofrio), she soon falls deeply in love with her rescuer. But just as she's on the vergeof building a life with him, Nestor unexpectedly appears, released from the torturous Cuban prison and determined to win his wife and daughter back. Torn between the passion of her present and the love of her past, Isabel must now choose which man will be her future

Customer Reviews:

For Love of Vincent, Watch this Movie........2005-03-04

He is,as always,mesmerizing! The story is a standard soapy pot-boiler that borrows rather heavily in my opinion from "Casablanca". But Scacchi is no Bergman and Smits did not compel me to root for him, nor did I see in him the nobility I sensed from Victor Lazlo.
But D'Onofrio smolders! He suffers beautifully and when he crashes the party I thought of "Wuthering Heights". (What a Heathcliff that man would make!)
How could any woman turn him away?

Both Stars are for D'Onofrio.......2005-01-28

I too bought this on VHS for Vincent D'Onofrio. My only negative comment about his performance is that there's not enough of it! I'll say right here and now that I'm not a big fan of Smits or Scacchi, and D'Onofrio overpowers them every time he's on screen. It's a beautiful story, and I can see why director Gillian Armstrong was attracted to it - it is a love story with a bit of real-life depth (rather than those soapy ones where the ridiculous problems are created by the characters for lack of imagination - Julia Roberts films, anyone?). That being said, the two lead roles needed to be played by stronger actors, and ones that could keep up with D'Onofrio vivacity. Worth a look for fans.

Changing places.......2002-04-28

I bought this video only because Vincent D'Onofrio is in it. I had previously purchased The Whole Wide World which is an amazingly wonderful,mostly unseen film of immense power and D'Onofrio's portrayal of Robert Howard in that film just blew me away. He has to be the most underrated actor in films!! He is also one of the most romantic film kissers ever!- He likes to do character roles and is superb in them as well but I wanted to see him in another romantic film and Fires Within looked interesting. He plays the lover, not the husband, and is so sexy and natural that Jimmy Smits pales by comparison. The ending is unbelievable and nearly spoils the movie for me, but I will probably see it over many times just because of D'Onofrio's performance.

Description

After spending over half his life in prison, ex-hitman Kunihiro is determined to go straight. But the shortcomings of the new gangs mean that he is soon having to call on his old-school yakuza talents. And when he falls for Asako, a beautiful piano player, she unknowingly ignites a fire within Kuni that will immolate everything and everybody around him. Regarded by many as his masterpiece, Onibi has all the hallmarks of a Mochizuki film, with the gangster elements tightly compressed and controlled to allow space in which a subdued romance can bloom. Coming from a background in porno cinema, this master of sexual relations injects a fresh passion and tension into the macho world of the yakuza film.

Cirque du Soleil - Fire Within / Varekai

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Cirque du Soleil - Fire Within / Varekai
Starring: Cirque Du Soleil
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B0002XVRNE
Release Date: 2004-11-02

The Fire Within (Le Feu follet) [ NON-USA FORMAT, PAL, Reg.4 Import - Australia ]

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The Fire Within (Le Feu follet) [ NON-USA FORMAT, PAL, Reg.4 Import - Australia ]
Director: Louis Malle
Manufacturer: Aztec
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Product Description

Australia released, PAL/Region 4 DVD: it WILL NOT play on standard US DVD player. You need multi-region PAL/NTSC DVD player to view it in USA/Canada. LANGUAGES: French (Dolby Digital 2.0), English (Subtitles), ANAMORPHIC WIDESCREEN (1.85:1), SYNOPSIS: Maurice Ronet plays an alcoholic writer, Alain Leroy, who is on the verge of suicide (his character is based on writer Jacques Rigaut, who killed himself in 1929). The psychiatrist assigned to Leroy is no help, advising his patient to seek a reconciliation with his wife, who is still smarting from Leroy's recent liaison with Lydia (Lena Skerla). Still obsessed with the notion of taking his own life, Leroy plans to stage his demise on July 23. A last-ditch effort to jolly himself out of his doldrums fails, and Leroy, with a picture of Marilyn Monroe at his side, snuffs himself out. Though a case study of a man victimized by his own isolationism, The Fire Within has some surprising random optimistic moments. The French title for The Fire Within is Le Feu Follet, which was also the title of the novel by Pierre Drieu La Rochelle (another suicide!) from which this film was adapted. SPECIAL FEATURES: Interactive Menu,

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Fire Within
Starring: Cirque Du Soleil
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Album Description

3-DVD set (NTSC, Region 1) featuring selections from all 13 episodes of the popular 'making of Varekai' TV series, with interviews, performance clips and more. 2004.

DVD:

DVD

DVD