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THE INVISIBLE CIRCUS Send This Review to a Friend
What really happend to Faith in Portugal? Did she really commit suicide, and if so why? How could such a vivacious, idealistic young woman who was a 1960s flower child have come to such an end? In 1977 these are the questions haunting her younger sister Phoebe, who on graduation from high school sets off to Europe to follow Faith's trail and learn the truth about her life. Back home, there is mom, played by Blythe Danner, who has a few good scenes.
With attractive Cameron Diaz as Faith in the flashbacks and interesting actress Jordana Brewster turning in a sympathetic performance as the troubled Phoebe, "The Invisible Circus," written and directed by Adam Brooks based on the book by Tim van Rellim, maintains a certain cachet. The quest leads Phoebe to learn about Faith's involvement with terrorism in Germany as a result of her idealism and naivete. There is also Faith's ex-boyfriend Wolf (Christopher Eccleston), and it comes as no surprise to find Phoebe attracted to him.
In fact, not much comes as a surprise, and despite the sincerity of the enterprise, there is a plodding effect as we work through toward the ultimate revelations. The effort is ambitious, but the payoffs are not great, as there is never a gripping sense of mystery that might make the trip worthwhile. "The Invisible Circus" lacks that visible extra that could turn it into compelling entertainment. A Fine Line Features release.
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