Reviewer's Bias*
Loves: Cirque du Soleil, artistic documentaries
Likes: Erotica
Dislikes: Cheaters
Hates:

The Movie
Most of the previous Cirque DVDs focused on the performances, and not the people. That changed with the limited series "Fire Within," which reversed course, and locked the cameras onto the personal lives of the troupe's members. The result was a fascinating inside look at a unique group of physical artists and all the personal drama that goes along with that kind of work. Now, with LOVESICK, the camera goes behind the curtain once again, this time entering the world of "Zumanity."

"Zumanity" was the perfect choice for such a project, considering the nature of the performance. A resident show in Las Vegas, "Zumanity" is intended for adults only, with plenty of simulated sex and very real nudity. Because of the subject matter, the cast has some unique issues to deal with in preparing for the show, as their lives become engulfed by sexuality. For some, it's a great experience, but for most, it just creates trouble.

As with most documentaries about large groups, the film picks a handful of interesting characters to focus on. This includes Joey, the transvestite emcee from Brooklyn; Laetitia, the innocent British ballerina; Alex, a muscular Miami native; and Jonel, a Canadian girl with a finance back home. Each faces their own challenges in adjusting to live in Sin City, adjusting to the demanding world of Cirque du Soleil and dealing with the effect the show has on their personal life.

The film is incredibly raw and revealing, as nothing is hidden from the cameras, whether it's Alex's temptations, Laetitia's unease, Jonel's new-found sexual freedom, or Joey's utter loneliness. Alternating between titillating and heartbreaking, the movie moves briskly and draws the viewer into this foreign world. The establishment of the characters is done smoothly and effectively, allowing you to care about these people and giving the plot a real power.

While the story is very good, the technique is equally strong, as the film is technically great, with excellent design and editing. The look is as dramatic as the tale, and the world of "Zumanity" is portrayed as a shadowy netherworld of flesh and debauchery inhabited by very real people. LOVESICK, like the show it documents, doesn't shy away from sex and nudity, and instead embraces it as art, creating a beautiful look at life.

The DVD
LoveSick arrives on one DVD, packed in a standard keepcase with a pretty insert that has the show credits. As is the norm for Cirque DVDs, the disc has some beautiful animated full-frame menus that match the tone of the film, in this case, an underground video tape style built around the four main stars. The menu offers a choice of play, subtitles, audio, extras and credits. Oddly, there are no scene selections menus available, but subtitles come in English, French, Spanish and Portuguese (as well as English Closed Captioning), while the audio is available in English 5.1 and 2.0 tracks.

The Quality
The anamorphic widescreen (1.78:1) transfer incorporates a few different media, resulting in a look that bounces from crisp and clean to dark and grainy. The changes give certain shots a "security cam" feel, while others capture the color and drama of the show. All of the looks are solid, with good color and quality detail, and not a spot of dirt, damage or digital artifacts.

The Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack does its job for most of the film by delivering very crisp dialogue through the center channel, while earning its praise by pumping up the soundtrack by pushing enhancements to the sides and rear. The music is a big part of what makes the movie so entertaining, and the track does very well with it.

The Extras
Just a few extras here, beginning with "LOVESICK in the Making," an eight-minute featurette about director Lewis Cohen and his effort to document the creation of LOVESICK. It's quick and interesting enough to be longer, especially when the main stars provide their views after seeing the finished film. The absence of certain people is certainly curious...

"Zumanity CD's Aural Pleasures" are a pair of well-shot photo galleries, set to songs from the show's soundtrack. Together, it's a very pretty extra. It's followed by a trailer for Zumanity.

The Bottom Line
Combine the artistry of Cirque du Soleil with the natural drama of a documentary and the sexuality of an orgy and you've got LoveSick, a beautiful, intriguing and entertaining film for adults. The presentation is top-notch, though the extras are a bit light. Cirque fans who appreciate the erotic arts and the drama of "Fire Within" should enjoy this new exploration.

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*The Reviewer's Bias section is an attempt to help readers use the review to its best effect. By knowing where the reviewer's biases lie on the film's subject matter, one can read the review with the right mindset.