Queerguru’s Ris Fatah reviews Circus Boy a thought-provoking documentary about how a family bonds

 

In today’s world, what is family?

This question is explored in award-winning director Lester Alfonso’s new thought-provoking documentary, Circus Boy. The film is about a Canadian married couple of men in Ontario named Thomas and Michael who ‘adopt’ a teenage boy called Ethan whom Thomas is training at his circus school.

Thomas is an avid believer that the circus is accessible to all people, and he takes joy from helping others find their flow by developing circus skills. He coaches 17 different circus disciplines to all age groups, with his primary love being the challenging Cyr Wheel.

When their adoptive son Ethan came into their lives via the circus school, Thomas and Michael fell in love all over again. Ethan has a natural talent for the Cyr and has been closely nurtured and mentored at circus school by Thomas, leading to the couple unofficially adopting Thomas’ protege. Ethan lives between his birth parents and his ‘adoptive’ parents. The documentary follows Thomas and Michael as they prepare to introduce Ethan to Thomas’ visiting mother, who also wants to meet Ethan’s birth mother and have a chat.

What emerges from this potentially fraught situation is the story of two unconventional families that have chosen an alternative path to love and parenthood, embracing kindness and generosity along the way. Challenging our social norms, the film slowly divulges the facts and history to the relationship between Ethan and his two sets of parents, opening our minds as we follow their heart-warming journey of co-parenting. This story is complemented by many beautiful clips of Thomas and Ethan gracefully performing on their Cyr wheels, weaving and wheeling their undoubted talent into the narrative.

Highly recommended.

Coming to Apple TV, iTunes and Vimeo on Demand on December 14^th

 

Review: Ris Fatah 

Queerguru Contributing Editor Ris Fatah is a successful fashion/luxury business consultant  (when he can be bothered) who divides and wastes his time between London and Ibiza. He is a lover of all things queer, feminist, and human rights in general. @ris.fatah

Posted by queerguru  at  13:11

Labels:  2021, documentary, gay parenting, Lester Alfonso