Cirque du Soleil - Quidam

Starring:John Gilkey, Franco Dragone, Chris Lashua, Mark Ward (VI), Aleksandr Leontiev, Tatiana Gousarova, Carmita Lorador, Svetlana Souvorova, GeneviÃ¨ve DubÃ©, Aloysia Gavre, Wu Di, Serguei Rissouev, Olga Pikhienko, Isabelle Chasse, Yelena Kolesnikova, Edward Skwirsky, Siqi Yuan, Raynald Masse, Aleksandr Pestov, Marie-Michelle Faber
Director: David Mallet
Studio: Sony Pictures
Product Type: DVD

Editorial Review:
Amazon.com
When Cirque du Soleil first ventured beyond Canada's borders, its powerful, singularly ambitious "reinvention of the circus" seemed quixotic. Inspired by European precedents, this was a big top downsized to a more intimate, single ring, as the French-Canadian troupe jettisoned animals, banished the usual fright-wigged clowns in favor of funny folks versed in (gulp) pantomime, and focused on acrobats, contortionists, and illusionists. Conventional wisdom would have held that such esoterica was doomed, but anyone lucky enough to catch that initial Cirque production (or, for that matter, any of its subsequent offerings) knows just how wrong conventional wisdom can be.

Cirque's creative brain trust, including "guide" Guy Laliberte and director Franco Dragone, have crafted each production as an extended performance piece framed by recurrent characters, unified production design, and underlying themes. Already mesmerizing visual tableaux and astonishing illusions are given an added poignancy (and, occasionally, true gravity) by the productions' underlying comments about society, conformity, beauty, and emotion; even without such conscious motifs, however, Cirque's sheer artistry is never less than riveting.

Quidam revolves around an Everychild, living with self-absorbed (and deliberately archetypal) parents, who's whisked away to a vividly surreal world where Cirque's remarkable acrobats and artists take literal flight. Their tools are often prosaic--oversized flying rings, an open steel wheel large enough for a single inhabitant, skateboards, ropes--yet the resulting images are stunning. Injecting further drama and atmosphere is the score (here by musical director Benoit Jutras), which is as far removed from traditional circus music as Cirque's "acts" are from Barnum & Bailey. Performed with synthesizers, electric guitar, solo reed instruments, percussion, and voice (often singing in a kind of Esperanto that's tantalizing yet foreign), Cirque's music can be dismissed as New Age only until heard in its intended context.

Amazon.com

When Cirque du Soleil first ventured beyond Canada's borders, its powerful, singularly ambitious "reinvention of the circus" seemed quixotic. Inspired by European precedents, this was a big top downsized to a more intimate, single ring, as the French-Canadian troupe jettisoned animals, banished the usual fright-wigged clowns in favor of funny folks versed in (gulp) pantomime, and focused on acrobats, contortionists, and illusionists. Conventional wisdom would have held that such esoterica was doomed, but anyone lucky enough to catch that initial Cirque production (or, for that matter, any of its subsequent offerings) knows just how wrong conventional wisdom can be.

Quidam revolves around an Everychild, living with self-absorbed (and deliberately archetypal) parents, who's whisked away to a vividly surreal world where Cirque's remarkable acrobats and artists take literal flight. Their tools are often prosaic--oversized flying rings, an open steel wheel large enough for a single inhabitant, skateboards, ropes--yet the resulting images are stunning. Injecting further drama and atmosphere is the score (here by musical director Benoit Jutras), which is as far removed from traditional circus music as Cirque's "acts" are from Barnum & Bailey. Performed with synthesizers, electric guitar, solo reed instruments, percussion, and voice (often singing in a kind of Esperanto that's tantalizing yet foreign), Cirque's music can be dismissed as New Age only until heard in its intended context.

Like three earlier video productions, Quidam can't quite achieve the sheer, enveloping wonder that its theatrical source does. But for fans of Cirque du Soleil's unique performance art, this latest presentation sustains the troupe's magic. --Sam Sutherland

Customer Reviews:

Cirque du Soleil.......2006-11-04

I saw this show in Las Vegas years ago. Loved it then and love this DVD version.

Eminently entertaining.......2006-08-17

After watching "Varekai," "Dralion," "Alegria," "Journey of Man" and other DVDs, I can safely say this is my favorite Cirque du Soleil show. Anyone familiar with Cirque du Soleil's training camp show on TV's Bravo knows there is a similarity to most of their shows, so details and subtle differences are important when distinguishing among them. With "Quidam," the music is perfect for the show, the performances are exceptional, the costumes are brilliant and the plot is the most delightful. I've seen this live once and liked it so much I might go back. I cannot find much about the DVD to criticize either because it is filmed very adroitly, the picture and sound quality are outstanding and it is presented in anamorphic widescreen. Suitable for all ages.

Wonderful and Elaborate.......2005-12-27

I grew up in vegas so I had the oppurtunity to watch the cirque shows that are still ongoing and thanks to Bravo network I was able to see Quidam and a few others offered on Amazon.

Quindam is one of my personal favorites from the acrobatics, including the jump roping, to the storyline, although it took me two viewings to catch all of it. If you can't get to Vegas this is one DVD you want in your personal collection along with the soundtrack. It really makes long trips shorter.

Now if they would film the Las Vegas trips then I could have the Ultimate Collection.

My Personal Opinion of Quidam.......2005-07-07

I will try to make this relatively short. I have seen a few performances of Cirque du Soleil on DVDs and TV. Quidam was filmed in Amsterdam and it shows more of an artsy performance then one I figured I would get with Cirque du Soleil. Also, the performance is subtitled in English (and a variety of other languages) which makes it more difficult to follow and watch. Overall, I did not like it too much. I labored through much of the performance wanting it to be over. The other few DVDs and shows I have seen had much more comedy and breaks in the performance. Quidam showed a very different view of Cirque du Soleil.

My first Cirque Experience!!.......2005-06-02

After my parents having gone to Treasure Island to see Mystere, I knew I would really enjoy a Cirque performance, based on their reactions to the show. I ordered a package through Columbia House, with Quidam and Dralion both. Quidam has a storyline that is more elaborate, and developed (in my opinion) than Dralion. After watching it repeatidly, I am still amazed at how many nuances I can pick out that I had never noticed before. Without going into specifics I would say that the theatrics and acts are coordinated beautifully, juxtaposed to the weaker story of Dralion, which seems to focus mainly on the acts. Surely Quidam is a must-see.

Cirque du Soleil 3-Pack (Quidam / Dralion / Journey of Man)

Average customer rating:

You Must See Them
This is the set to get !!

Cirque du Soleil 3-Pack (Quidam / Dralion / Journey of Man)
Starring: John Gilkey , Franco Dragone , Chris Lashua , Carmita Lorador , and Svetlana Souvorova
Director: David Mallet , and Guy Caron (II)
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Musicals & Performing Arts | Genres | DVD | Video

Comedy | Boxed Sets | Stores | DVD | Video

Special Interests | Boxed Sets | Stores | DVD | Video

( C ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

Cirque du Soleil - Varekai
Cirque du Soleil - Alegria (Live in Sydney)
Cirque du Soleil - La Nouba
Cirque du Soleil - Saltimbanco
Cirque du Soleil - Nouvelle Experience

ASIN: B00006L928
Release Date: 2002-11-19

Amazon.com

When Cirque du Soleil first ventured beyond Canada's borders, its powerful, singularly ambitious "reinvention of the circus" seemed quixotic. Inspired by European precedents, this was a big top downsized to a more intimate, single ring, as the French Canadian troupe jettisoned animals and the usual fright-wigged clowns, and focused on acrobats, contortionists, and illusionists. Conventional wisdom would have held that such esoterica was doomed, but anyone lucky enough to catch that initial Cirque production (or any subsequent offerings) knows just how wrong conventional wisdom can be.

Quidam revolves around an Everychild, who's whisked away to a vividly surreal world where Cirque's remarkable acrobats and artists take literal flight. Their tools are often prosaic--oversized flying rings, an open steel wheel large enough for a single inhabitant, skateboards, ropes--yet the resulting images are stunning. Injecting further drama and atmosphere is the score, which can be dismissed as New Age only until heard in its intended context.

The Chinese consider the lion a symbol of good luck, so it's a half-dragon, half-lion--a dralion--that is the symbol of the East-meets-West fusion of Dralion, in which 36 Chinese acrobats join the renowned Canadian troupe. Celebrating the four elements as represented in four colors--blue (air), green (water), red (fire), and ochre (earth)--Dralion combines ancient Chinese circus traditions with Cirque du Soleil's usual stunning elements: the techno-oriented single ring; the multicolored lights and costumes; the music that mixes rock, New Age, and various world influences (though not Chinese); and of course the acrobatic stunts, those eye-popping displays of agility, balance, and strength. You'll see an acrobat balancing on one hand, a brawny juggler, a high-flying teeterboard act, a double trapeze, contortionists, a parasol turned and tossed atop a foot, furiously synchronized hoop-diving, unbelievable rope-skipping, and more.

Journey of Man is a showcase for transcendent beauty and astonishing physical achievement. Originally produced as a 3-D IMAX presentation, this 39-minute film remains impressive on smaller screens, although its guiding theme (the evolution of humankind through the power of dreams, faith, and love) is sweetly contrived. It's the way this theme is expressed that matters: elements of Cirque du Soleil's awe-inspiring stage act are performed amid wondrous settings, accompanied by Benoît Jutras's inspiring score, and metaphorically representing the birth, growth, and maturity of "the Universal Child." The journey of man comes full circle to the sustaining belief that all things are possible. It's this point that is best expressed by the remarkable feats of Cirque du Soleil's lavishly costumed performers, including a uniquely graceful underwater ballet, swooping bungee-cord choreography, two precisely balanced human "statues" in perfect synchronicity, and other wonders that must be seen to be believed.

Customer Reviews:

You Must See Them.......2003-02-03

Three years ago, I was lucky enough to see, within a three-week period, Riverdance in Tokyo and Cirque du Soleil in Melbourne. Watching Cirque du Soleil live is, of course, a heart-stopping and heart-racing experience, so joyful, so amazing. My reaction again and again to the dozens of performances on these DVD's is not "unbelievable", but "impossible". The laws of physics do not permit what these performers are able to pull off. The performers are so far above and beyond anything you will see anywhere else, combining original styles you never see in a traditional circus. Nothing is predictable. On top of that you get a production worthy of an Olympic opening ceremony, just on a smaller scale to fit into CdS's live tent. In addition, there are no live animals used for the amusement of us humans. All the entertainment (including the lions in Dralion) is provided by people for people. The show is wild, uplifting, inspiring, hysterically funny. Two of the shows were filmed before live audiences, and just as in the live performance I attended the audience is screaming, clapping, whistling, guffawing and gasping almost constantly throughout the show. Totally involved. Most circus acts start slow and build to an amazing climax. Cirque du Soleil acts start amazing, move through unbelievable and climax at impossible. My only slight disappointment in this set is "Journey of Man", which was not filmed before an audience but at a variety of famous natural and man-made sites around the world. The "journey" narrated by Ian McKellen is so fast, the baby in the first scene grows to late middle age about as fast as Alice changes size in Wonderland, only to discover that the secret to happiness as an adult is to keep the child within you alive. Somehow, the writers try to connect this to some of the Cirque acts which are truncated to fit into the short show. Nonetheless, the acts are still impressive and the photography is lush, the scenes varied. On the whole, you will not find a more entertaining DVD set for the whole family to enjoy together. Be forewarned: after viewing the DVD's you are going to want to see Cirque live if they come to your neck of the woods.

This is the set to get !!.......2003-01-06

If you have loved Cirque Du Soleil, but have not yet bought any of the performances, get this set of three and watch them on DVD on a HDTV widescreen. FANTASTIC! These are the best of all the DVD's they have released to date.

Amazon.com

Customer Reviews:

Cirque du Soleil.......2006-11-04

I saw this show in Las Vegas years ago. Loved it then and love this DVD version.

Eminently entertaining.......2006-08-17

Wonderful and Elaborate.......2005-12-27

My Personal Opinion of Quidam.......2005-07-07

My first Cirque Experience!!.......2005-06-02

Average customer rating:

Cirque du Soleil: Quidam [Region 2]
Starring: John Gilkey , Franco Dragone , Chris Lashua , Carmita Lorador , and Svetlana Souvorova
Director: David Mallet
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

( C ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
ASIN: B00004VXZY

Average customer rating:

Cirque du Soleil: Quidam [Region 2]
Starring: John Gilkey , Franco Dragone , Chris Lashua , Carmita Lorador , and Svetlana Souvorova
Director: David Mallet
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

( C ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
ASIN: B0000558PC

DVD:

DVD

DVD

DVD

Desert Blue

Mary Higgins Clark: Mystery Movie Collection

Good Night Maisy (REGION 1) (NTSC)

DVD: Friends & Lovers

Die Abenteuer von Huck Finn