TV REVIEW : Iron Curtain Rises on the Soviet Circus

In the spirit of glasnost , a new “National Geographic” special, “Inside the Soviet Circus” (airing at 8 tonight on Channels 28, 15 and 24, and at 10 p.m. on Channel 50), takes American viewers behind the Iron Curtain into a surprisingly fanciful world of lion tamers, acrobats and clowns.

In this beautifully filmed documentary, we are shown extraordinary circus performers, members of one of the most beloved and highly esteemed art forms in the Soviet Union.

Oleg Popov, for 40 years one of the great Soviet clowns; Michail Bagdasaroff, a massive beastmaster, gently introducing his eager 9-year-old son into the ring, and the stunning Cranes, an aerialist troupe performing with astonishing grace and beauty--these are a few of the 6,000 circus artists seen by 70 million Soviets annually, in circuses held nine times a week across the nation.

The artists learn their crafts at the prestigious Moscow Circus School, perform in permanent state-of-the-art structures built just for them, are supported by their government throughout their careers and are guaranteed comfortable retirement. (Lenin nationalized the circus in 1919.)

Within this cocoon of official approval thrive humor, grace and vivid flights of fancy.

The film, written and produced by Miriam Birch and narrated by Theodore Bikel, takes a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at these members of the Soviet elite who transcend politics and bureaucracy.

Along the way, it provides revealing glimpses of a rich mix of Soviet citizenry as well.

Watching Soviet children and their parents wide-eyed at the circus or the clown Popov visiting a war memorial to the millions of his country’s World War II dead, it is not our nations’ differences that easily come to mind.