Buskers; For Love or Money (2008)
In his directorial debut Mad Chad Taylor, the renowned Venice Beach chainsaw Juggler, has created a one of a kind documentary that goes deep inside the hidden world of street performers. Amid rare footage of the most shocking and inspired street acts from around the world, one performer after another pulls back the makeshift curtain. Their acts are astonishing; their stories, more amazing still. Here is the tightrope walker, the razor blade muncher, the sidewalk samurai, the tattooed man. Meet The Fireman who lost his teeth to his fire-eating act, and the Calypso Tumbler who's buying up real estate in the Caribbean. This is the human condition at its most freakishly wonderful.
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Reviews
A movie that not only functions as a solid scarefest but a razor-sharp satire.
A terrific literary drama and character piece that shows how the process of creating art can be seen differently by those doing it and those looking at it from the outside.
The joyful confection is coated in a sparkly gloss, bright enough to gleam from the darkest, most cynical corners.
It's a feast for the eyes. But what really makes this dramedy work is the acting.
Are you not entertained? I was.This film is a documentary about street performers. a large number of acts are shown in clips and pieces, and these people... the majority of them.... know how to keep your attention. It was almost like watching a well edited compilation video on youtube of interesting short videos, except you get to know these people and what they do and why they do it.They also explain to the camera many aspects of their work, all aspects are not over played out, but fit well throughout the film. Mostly short bursts of different information is revealed regarding one aspect or another with good visual tie in to keep things interesting.Things discussed were: art vs money, techniques to win over the audience, psychology of a performer, earnings, best and worst parts about the job, pan handling vs free speech, risks, stealing routines and locations, traveling, bombing an act, weather, audience participation, retiring,... etc.If you liked the documentary "Confessions of a Superhero" or "The Reinactors" for their look at the characters of Hollywood Boulevard, then you will love this film. More exciting and with the right amount of insight into their stories. In those Hollywood Boulevard character films, you get a sense too that some of these people really shouldn't be able to bother tourists, but these performers, many of them are only there for those who enjoy their acts, and there is nothing wrong with what they do as long as they don't hurt or harass anybody. I hope to be able to enjoy these artists in real life without them being stopped by the authorities. I say, Good Show. And please, continue.