Movie Review ~ Cirque du Soleil: Without a Net

The highest-grossing single piece of live entertainment ever, Cirque du Soleil’s “O” had been running since 1998 at the Bellagio in Las Vegas to capacity crowds. A water-themed fantasia set in, around, and above a 1.5-million-gallon tank of water, each night, two shows of 1,800 guests would be awed at the stunning acrobatics (and aquabatics) of an incredible company of athletes and performers.  Since its inception, Cirque du Soleil has captivated audiences worldwide, leaving over 215 million people in more than 70 countries awestruck.  With multiple shows running in Vegas, “O” was still their crown jewel.  Then, in 2020, the pandemic came to town.

During the lockdown, shows were shuttered, and the Canadian-based Cirque du Soleil was forced to lay off 95% of its staff, including its performers.  This presented a challenge for many who had come to the U.S. on visas that prohibited them from working for any company other than the one they were granted entrance for.  After 400 days, mandates were lifted, and it was time to reopen.  Could the company rebuild its flagship show and restage what was up until a year before a razor-sharp, high-flying, and high-diving troupe?

Water and wonder collide in the documentary Cirque du Soleil: Without a Net, which offers a fascinating plunge into the world of the most famous international circus act.  Now streaming on Prime Video, director Dawn Porter’s behind-the-scenes all-access-pass is premiering two years after its debut at DOCNYC and offers an intimate look at the resurrection not just of a show but of a unified spirit.  Following the cast as they navigate uncertainty during the lockdown through their reopening night, Porter’s keen eye can pick up on the high stakes as she captures a journey back to world-class standards.

Porter (who I was lucky enough to see present the world premiere of her new Luther Vandross documentary Luther: Never Too Much at Sundance) skillfully allows the natural drama of the rehearsals and previews to unfold through the performers’ eyes in Cirque du Soleil: Without a Net.  The physical and mental demands are staggering, and the prolonged break from performing has left many raw with emotion. The documentary doesn’t shy away from the vulnerability that surfaces, as bodies are pushed to the limit during grueling run-throughs, making the toll required to bring this aquatic epic back to life a Herculean task.

Cirque du Soleil: Without a Net often reminded me of the 2002 reality series Cirque du Soleil: Fire Within, which aired on Bravo and documented the creation of their show Varekai.  A multi-part series, it also pulled back the curtain to reveal the company’s inner workings but presented their process for building a show from the ground up, not piecing it back together.  The series had the benefit of multiple episodes to explore peripheral characters, and I get the sense Porter had to scrap hours of similar footage due to time constraints.  The documentary’s structure may seem simple—the pandemic closes the show, the reopening process begins, rehearsals are rough, and the show opens—but for those fascinated by Cirque du Soleil and building a show, it remains vibrant and engaging.

There are a few oddities, however.  While it’s obviously a doc made with the participation of Cirque du Soleil, I wonder how much say they had in what went into the film and what was left out.  While most of the company was hired back, several previous cast members weren’t.  It feels like there is more to that which, deliberately, isn’t explored.  No one ever has much of anything in the way of a major disagreement or lashes out.  In this high-tension climate, I must imagine there were some strained moments, and these are the real-life situations viewers crave, not for the drama but for the fly-on-the-wall chance to see how they are resolved.  Lastly, while completed prior to its 2022 debut, one of the end credit cards oddly references a milestone the company was set to meet in 2023.  Watching it now, after it has sat on the shelf for a good amount of time, it feels like a missed opportunity to go back and tweak this statement and even add another update on where the performers are now.

Despite a few minor quibbles, Cirque du Soleil: Without a Net is a must-see for fans and a worthwhile watch for anyone planning a Vegas vacation. While much of the show is filmed professionally and presented throughout, Porter and the company have given you mere morsels of the astounding piece.  As someone who finally experienced the breathtaking spectacle of “O” in person in 2022 (it’s unforgettable and worth every penny, trust me), I was completely engrossed in the behind-the-scenes process.  Watching the documentary brought back vivid memories of that night and deepened my appreciation for the incredible effort that goes into each performance. It’s a compelling watch that captures the drive and soul of Cirque du Soleil’s return to the stage.