Without a net - the emotion behind Cirque du Soleil’s high-wire act

When the world went dark in 2020, so did the lights at the Bellagio. In a matter of a few hours, Cirque du Soleil, the globally acclaimed circus production company, went from running 44 shows across 7 countries to zero. Fortunately, that was not the end of the line. 

With 95% of staff laid off and bankruptcy looming, Cirque du Soleil truly found itself suspended high in the air, without a safety net. Yet, 400 days after the shutdown, a skeleton crew began the herculean task of reviving ‘O’ in just eight weeks. Launched on July 25, 2024, the new Prime Video documentary Without a Net offers a poignant and exhilarating look at how this theatrical powerhouse clawed its way back from the brink.

The show must go on

When you sit back in a theater and watch the acrobats fly across the room with such startling ease, it’s tough not to marvel at the amazing artistry. But behind the mechanical and technical innovations that make these stunts possible, there are lives at stake. In the personal stories of the performers that make the troupe, the film finds a narrative thread strong enough to weave together Cirque du Soleil’s rise from the ashes.

We meet performers like Emma Garrovillo, a trapeze artist who installed a lollipop lyra in her living room to stay sane during lockdown. There's Bill May, an artistic swimmer whose Olympic dreams morphed into Cirque stardom, now facing an uncertain future. The wall of smiling ‘crew’ portraits is a bittersweet reminder of a family scattered to the winds. Through their stories, we witness the raw humanity behind the superhuman feats.

Diving into the deep end

There is a love story, a sudden loss of a friend, a grueling conflict, an emotional exit, and of course, the grand finale of the opening night. Even in a new medium, the Canadian entertainment group has chronicled a journey with all the ingredients for an emotional blockbuster.

But, most importantly, you hear the heartbeat of Cirque du Soleil itself – in the splash of O's million-gallon tank, in the gasps of awe from the returning audience, and in the collective sigh of relief from a company that has weathered the storm. Their story is a testament to the human spirit, and the magic that happens when we dare to dream – even without a safety net.

You can watch the high-stakes documentary on Amazon’s Prime Video, streaming globally. And if it inspires you to watch the incredible artists at work live, catch Cirque du Soleil’s ‘O’ inside the O Theater at the Bellagio in Vegas.