The Palace of Laughter

Original title: O palacio do riso

"The film tells the story of a small circus from the favelas of the city of João Pessoa."

27 min Portuguese Georgi Balabanov, Vânia Perazzo

Overview

The film tells the story of a small circus from the favelas of the city of João Pessoa - the capital of the state of Paraíba in northeastern Brazil. It follows the lives of its “performers,” who take whatever work they can find during the day and, by night, transform poverty into art. The audience becomes an enthusiastic accomplice in this “illusion.”

Documentary