Directed by:
Robinson SavaryCinematography:
Christophe BeaucarneComposer:
Mercury RevCast:
Chris Bearne, Derek Jacobi, Izabella Miko, Jodhi May, Michael Lonsdale, James Thiérrée, Thierry van Werveke, Andrej Acin, Nina Morato, Patrick Hastert (more)Plots(1)
Starring Derek Jacobi and Jodhi May, Bye Bye Blackbird is a tragic and compelling love story set in a turn of the century travelling circus. When Josef falls in love with the beautiful trapeze artist, Alice, he knows the only way to woo her is if he too masters the trapeze. Lord Dempsey the circus owner and Alice's father is at first opposed to Josef's attempts to create a new act but as he sees how talented Josef is he reluctantly agrees to allow it to go ahead. On the night of the first time the act is performed Alice falls and word reaches the camp that she has died. Josef is destroyed and vows never to set foot on the ground again. Using Josef as a curious circus act Lord Dempsey tours the circus through various European cities until his popularity begins to wane and he persuades Josef to recreate the act, solo. But in doing so Josef is plagued by terrible visions and the scene is set for a final unexpected revelation. Elegantly filmed by photographer Robinson Savory, Bye Bye Blackbird has a stellar cast including stage and screen star Derek Jacobi in the role of Lord Dempsey and James Thierre, in his first lead role as Josef, who grew up in a circus and is an acrobat, performer and musician and creator of 'La Veillee des abysses' a French circus. (official distributor synopsis)
(more)Cast
Chris Bearne
Best movies:
The Pillow Book (1996)
Renaissance (2006)
CQ (2001)
Derek Jacobi
UK
Best movies:
Kenneth Branagh Theatre Company: Romeo and Juliet (2016) (theatrical recording)
Gladiator (2000)
The King's Speech (2010)
Izabella Miko
Poland
Best movies:
Planet Single 2 (2018)
The Spiderwick Chronicles (2008)
Love and Dance (2009)
Jodhi May
UK
Best movies:
Warriors (1999) (TV movie)
The Last of the Mohicans (1992)
Max and Helen (1990) (TV movie)
Michael Lonsdale
France
Best movies:
The Day of the Jackal (1973)
The Name of the Rose (1986)
Order of the Daisy (1967)
James Thiérrée
Switzerland
Best movies:
Prospero's Books (1991)
Stefano Quantestorie (1993)
Total Eclipse (1995)
Thierry van Werveke
Switzerland
Best movies:
Knockin' on Heaven's Door (1997)
Die Rebellion (1993) (TV movie)
Hasenjagd - Vor lauter Feigheit gibt es kein Erbarmen (1994)
Andrej Acin
Yugoslavia
Best movies:
Bye Bye Blackbird (2004)
Nina Morato
France
Best movies:
La Séparation (1994)
Love Is in the Air (2005)
The Actress' Ball (2009)
Patrick Hastert
Best movies:
Hannah Arendt (2012)
Twin Sisters (2002)
Tabu - Es ist die Seele ein Fremdes auf Erden (2011)
Claudine Peters
Best movies:
Clownwise (2013)
Bye Bye Blackbird (2004)
Claire Johnston
Best movies:
I've Loved You So Long (2008)
Hannah Arendt (2012)
House of Boys (2009)
Claude Breda
Best movies:
Tabu - Es ist die Seele ein Fremdes auf Erden (2011)
Sleepless Night (2011)
Nuits d'Arabie (2007)
Carlos Pavlidis
Greece
Best movies:
Maigret (1991) (series)
Roselyne and the Lions (1989)
Bye Bye Blackbird (2004)
Denis Simonetta
Best movies:
Colonia (2015)
Rebel (2022)
An Affair of Love (1999)