In Co Hoedeman's animated short about a troupe of marionette acrobats, everything that can go wrong does. No matter what the ringleader does, each act goes awry until we begin to wonder who's really running the show. Even when Marianne, the master puppeteer, emerges at the end of the show to take her final bow, those little acrobats still seem to have a mind of their own. Brilliantly executed, this film dissolves the boundaries between theatre and animated film to create a magical experience.
Ages 6 to 11
Study Guide - Guide 1
Family Studies/Home Economics - Relationships
Health/Personal Development - Healthy Relationships
Health/Personal Development - Problem Solving/Conflict Resolution
Media Education - Film Animation
In a whimsical theatrical universe, a puppeteer attempts to create a show with her three paper cut-out Saltimbanco acrobats. Sometimes, however, it is not clear just who is in charge. How do the little acrobats work together to restore harmony? Have students create paper characters and play out scenarios with each other. Are we always in charge? How important is it to sometimes just go with the flow?