"The Invisible Circus"
18-year old Phoebe O'Connor (Jordanna Brewster) spent her teen years possessed by the memory of her older sister Faith (Cameron Diaz). Faith left home years before to go to Europe to "do something important." She died. Phoebe has always questioned the death and finally leaves home, herself, to find the truth in "The Invisible Circus."
Adapting the novel by Jennifer Egan, Adam Brooks scripts and directs this road journey/coming-of-age story about a young woman growing up in the 70's. By the beginning of that decade, the hippie philosophy of changing the world through peace and love had mutated into change-through-terror. In Europe, radical factions like the Bader-Meinhoff Gang were using guns and bombs to affect change, attracting revolutionaries from around the world.
Faith and her boyfriend, Wolf (Christopher Eccleston), leave the staid safety of San Francisco to check out what's happening in Europe. After wandering the continent to find themselves, Faith is drawn to the excitement of the Red Army and joins the terrorist group, leaving Wolf behind. Faith's fails to prove herself as a revolutionary and is abandoned by the gang. She joins a splinter faction and, when she delivers a bomb to the offices of a prominent industrialist one night, an innocent man is killed. Faith is changed forever by the incident.
Years later, after Faith's death in Portugal, Phoebe takes the postcards that her sister faithfully sent her, kisses her mom (Blythe Danner) goodbye, and heads to the Continent. Once there, she traces Faith's movements from Amsterdam to Berlin to Paris where she finds Wolf. Her appearance at his doorstep and her mission cause the expatriated American to join Phoebe on her quest. A romance ensues. During the journey Phoebe convinces Wolf to tell her the truth about her sister and this truth is to change Phoebe forever.
"The Invisible Circus" is throwback film that feels like it was made in the 70's. There is an innocence to both the story and its telling that is rather refreshing. It does not try to recreate events of the day. Instead, it shows the essence of the idealism the young possessed at the time. Faith personifies the free spirit that sees herself as the vehicle of change for the whole world. When her ideals are dashed by the results of her violent actions, it reps the loss of innocence for both Faith and the radical youth movement.
The focus of the story is on young Phoebe as she struggles with the loss of her sister without understanding why she died. Phoebe lived, vicariously, through the postcards from Faith, seeing the world from her sister's eyes. Faith's death and Phoebe's newfound independence cause the young woman to follow in her sister's steps. The ensuing journey is both physical and spiritual for Phoebe as she finds herself, love and, finally, the answers she seeks. It's an interesting story of a young woman whose experiences and pain turn her into a wiser, though more melancholy, young adult.
Jordanna Brewster does a solid job as Phoebe. She has to carry the bulk of the screen time and actually matures as the story progresses. The young actress acquits herself well. Cameron Diaz has the difficult role of being the idol of her sister's eye and her character is held at arm's length to be examined by her sister (and the viewer). Christopher Eccleston is believable as Wolf. He, too, has a tough role and walks a fine line between weakness and strength. Blythe Danner's is little more than a cameo performance, but she does do a good mom. Patrick Bergin appears in flashback as the girls' father.
Production is well done with beautifully selected European locations. It's almost a travelogue as we journey to the canals of Amsterdam, the streets of Paris and the lush scenery of Portugal. It looks good, too, with the photography Henry Braham and costumes by Donna Zakowska lending to the feel of the 70's. There is also a surreal element, nicely handled, when Phoebe meets the members of the title troupe in a display of magic, juggling and dance.
"The Invisible Circus" is a good coming-of-age tale that has a sensible arc to its story. It should have an attraction for more mature teens and young adults, though I doubt if it will set any fires. I give it a C+.
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