This is by far the best short film I have ever seen, and the only one that has made me cry. But they were happy, inspired, hopeful tears that stained my face with joy. This is one of those special films that everybody can take something from and apply to their own life. If nothing else, it’ll make you grateful that you have two legs to stand on and two arms with which to flex your guns. Grab the box of tissue, snuggle up with a loved one, and enjoy The Butterfly Circus.
The Butterfly Circus was the very deserving winner of The Doorpost Film Project 2009, which had filmmakers create 20-minute shorts on six different themes: hope, forgiveness, freedom, humility, joy, and redemption. Check out the runners up and the other entries at http://www.thedoorpost.com.
(Fun Fact: Doug Jones, the actor who played the contortionist in The Butterfly Circus is also the same guy who played the nightmare-inducing, child-eating, eyeballs-on-hands-wearing creature (The Pale Man) in Pan’s Labyrinth; he also played the less-creepy Faun in the same movie. Mr. Jones seems to have an affinity for playing atypical or fantastical characters, as he was cast as the Silver Surfer in Fantastic 4, and was transformed into both Abe Sapien and the Angel of Death for Hellboy.)
Very fun fact about Doug Jones. A real-life chameleon!