Hot Docs 2008

Carny, directed by Alison Murray, offers an intimate and surprisingly beautiful look into the lives of a group of carnival workers. I half expected this film to be a voyeuristic spectacle – relishing the strangeness and 'otherness' of people who don't live or look like the rest of us. What I found was a film that effortlessly portrays the humanity and passion of the carnival workers. I was supprised to learn that most of the carnival workers actually chose to live and work at the carnival, rather than turning to it as a last resort. The main character of the film is Hairy, a delightful young woman with a real lust for life. Like many of the characters, Hairy has had a hard life and a rough childhood. For her, working at the carnival is her chance to have the fun and joy that she never got as a child. It's really a joy to watch her explain how much she loves what she does. After watching this movie, I don't think I'll ever walk through a carnival without thinking about the lives and stories of the people who make it all happen.