This Clown Philosopher Lives in a Wonderful, Whimsical World

This Clown Philosopher Lives in a Wonderful, Whimsical World | Short Film Showcase

7 років тому

Rooted in physical comedy, clowning has transcended cultural barriers since ancient times. In this short film by the American Theatre Wing, enter the whimsical world of philosopher Slava Polunin and follow clowns through their routines.
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The Short Film Showcase spotlights exceptional short videos created by filmmakers from around the web and selected by National Geographic editors. We look for work that affirms National Geographic's belief in the power of science, exploration, and storytelling to change the world. The filmmakers created the content presented, and the opinions expressed are their own, not those of National Geographic Partners.
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For clown philosophers like Slava Polunin, happiness is both an art form and a mission statement. Through constant and playful practice, Polunin has dedicated the past 40 years of his life to nurturing the art of foolishness. Blurring the line between fantasy and real life, Polunin’s famous shows have brought joy to millions of people around the world.
In this short film by the American Theatre Wing, enter the whimsical world of Slava Polunin and follow clowns Brent McBeth, Joel Jeske, and David Shiner through their routines. Rooted in physical comedy, clowning has been transcending cultural barriers since ancient times. Speaking the universal language of laughter, clowns bring people together to share in the joy and absurdity of the human condition. As said by Big Apple Circus clown Joel Jeske, "Clowns fall down so we don't have to."
American Theatre Wing: www.americantheatrewing.org/
This Clown Philosopher Lives in a Wonderful, Whimsical World | Short Film Showcase
• This Clown Philosopher...
National Geographic
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КОМЕНТАРІ: 347

@ferna2294 7 років тому

"Never ever do something important with people you don´t want to embrace" I can feel that sentence inside my soul.

@wafferz 5 років тому

"transforming pain into laughter" my new mission statement

@michaelhunt3996 4 роки тому

Well, it's been approximately one year. Any status updates? I'm genuinely interested. Also: never too late to re embark on hey resolution once forgot

@xm377Moyocoyatzin 3 роки тому

Pain is transformed into joy, sorrow into peace.

@HalCG 7 років тому

That Russian outdoor circus was stunningly beautiful

@VadimkaMr 6 років тому

the best part - it goes on forever XD

@Evgen597 6 років тому

Slava Polunin lives in France!

@juraffe1159 5 років тому

It's Russian architecture even if it's in France xp

@jackblair9668 3 роки тому

I know this comment is 3 years old but in case anyone was wondering that's not a festival, that's his house. He lives like that.

@lenakon28 2 роки тому

Just came back from his snowshow, after a long thoughtful walk through his gardens that he built with his friends. We laughed, we cried, we touched Slava's dream and it makes you happy and sad at the same time! After the show i saw butterfly and it took me some time to realise, that she is real and this was not part of the show. This is how far he is taking you from reality to the world you will not be able to forget or dislike. Imaginary world of a kindest child that became true.

@grindcoremaniac 7 років тому

I'll never understand why people get freaked out by clowns. This is exactly how I've always viewed clowns, as friendly silly characters who only want to make me laugh

@RedwihteGame 7 років тому

grindcoremaniac it's mostly because of the environment and behavior the clown is displayed as and in that decides whether the clown is scary or not. For example, a clown with a freaky mask equipped with a bloody axe in a dark forest would probably scare anyone regardless of their stance on clowns. Also the media may have a contributing role when it comes to the public view on clowns.

@grindcoremaniac 7 років тому

RedwihteGame true. I've never had any creepy clowns trying to mess with me though, so I might be biased lol

@xinic5 7 років тому

Horror often plays with traditional none creepy, often "innocent" things and makes them scary. Clowns, children's music, little kids. How many people do you hear from time to time call a kid, a child's song or whatever "creepy"? I have heard it quite a bit. I also think creepy clowns do play a role to some degree with their traditional role. For someone like me who finds dark humor funny, I really like Pennywise the Dancing Clown from Stephen King's "IT", and the Joker. They take horrible tragedy and fears, play with it and make light of it. Obviously that's not for everyone, and a lot of people who are into Clowning don't like the stigma that "creepy clowns" have left on people. I think the major problem with this, is that not a lot of people like dark humor so seeing Pennywise come up from a shower drain or something, is simply scary and not funny at all. Even someone like Stephen King, probably didn't intend for their to be humor in it. But there are people like me out there, who do find it funny.

@Srcsqwrn 7 років тому

When you take something innocent and put it in a threatening environment you create something creepy. Same for music, same for video, etc.

@xinic5 7 років тому

+Skye S They weren't doing shit. Just like 2015 around October, people were dressing as creepy clowns and posing in and taking pictures in public places on posting on social media. Only in 2016 you got people claiming that creepy clowns were out attacking, kidnapping and chasing people. Not a single one ever was arrested or proven to be true. Then some dumb ass kids decided to start making bomb and mass shooting threats "by creepy clowns", typically to their own school. Then they'd go on youtube, watch videos on it, and make false claims of being chased by one or beating one up, just to get attention.

@Creepovision 6 років тому

Pure gorgeosity. A lovely, different angle on a misunderstood, necessary world. Thank you!

@toxicjester4997 6 років тому

My mom always had a dream of becoming a clown but my grandmother told her to get it out of her head. Totally crushing her dream. I absolutely love clowns (yes of all kinds) I don’t find them terrifying, I find them pretty adorable and only have the goal of making you laugh and happy. #ClownLivesMatter ❤️💛💚💙💜🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡

@Everettalla Рік тому

That hashtag should be used more Edit: Used GENUINELY

@solfeo8905 Рік тому

You have the highlighted the significance of a ‘non-ironic clown’ whilst ironically not having a too encouraging username; it’s said that the internet invested demographics integrate ‘meta-irony’ into their humour heavily.

@az428428 7 років тому

I WATCHED THIS GUYS SHOW IN RUSSIA, IT WAS SO BEAUTIFUL I CRIED

@-.._.-_...-_.._-..__..._.-.-.- 7 років тому

7:52 That's awesome.

@nataliesummerson2805 7 років тому

just about to head to bed, when I saw this... the beginning immediately made me want to save this for the morning with a good cup of coffee ☕ night/morning y'all

@MikhaelAhava 7 років тому

Natalie Summerson Morning.

@dharmawanlaksono4576 7 років тому

Natalie Summerson morning

@gabrielgarcia437 7 років тому

mmmhmm... coffee ☕

@accountdeleted8171 7 років тому

I'm sorry to report... Natalie Summerson is no longer with us. A man in a clown suit broke into her house.. And murdered her while she slept... Her remains were made into an omelette. I am enjoying this video she marked as "watch later" though.

@shepdgc.og.soldier7732 7 років тому

Natalie Summerson Be careful what you say. 👆That persons account was deleted.

@alexspike7331 7 років тому

This is incredibly interesting. It is awesome to see clowns reclaim their profession from the frowned-upon caricature they describe.

@tvadjani856 7 років тому

his crib looks peaceful af

@DProDesign 7 років тому

Mr Polunin urges to be happy, but I'm extremely sad for some reason... with some light freeing sadness. Thank you.

@Stas_Vas 3 роки тому

There's no happiness without sadness - russian way to feel, to be clown

@Everettalla Рік тому

He’s definitely becoming elderly, and I think the mixture of clown makeup and the aging of the human body confuses peoples brains. We experience many different emotions at once at times, but they’re usually in similar categories of mood.

@someperson2500 7 років тому

Wow, they're even making me happy through the internet. Great job, guys. Tons of respect

@SOLOIIguru 7 років тому

NatGeo--more of this......this was good stuff

@dinkusstinkus4396 7 років тому

Heard joke once: Man goes to doctor. Says he's depressed. Says life seems harsh and cruel. Says he feels all alone in a threatening world where what lies ahead is vague and uncertain. Doctor says, "Treatment is simple. Great clown Pagliacci is in town tonight. Go and see him. That should pick you up." Man bursts into tears. Says, "But doctor...I am Pagliacci

@d4n737 5 років тому

Is it... Bad that I actually laughed?

@tomhato5523 5 років тому

Nice watchman reference

@michaelhunt3996 4 роки тому

@@d4n737 as a general rule of thumb laughter is not to be frowned upon.

@d4n737 4 роки тому

@@michaelhunt3996 ok, then.

@Skeksistential-crisis 4 роки тому

Tom Hato old joke, first record of it being told is in the 1800s. It’s not a watchmen reference. Watchmen just referenced the same joke.

@Oscar-zx1ce 3 роки тому

Slava est vraiment un des artistes les plus extraordinaire que j'ai pu voir sur un spectacle. Il s'est mélangé la douceur la profondeur la poésie la drôlerie le burlesque la simplicité qu'il manie avec beaucoup de dextérité, merci Monsieur Slava

@Everettalla Рік тому

So many “y’s” in the English translation haha

@kinfemelak457 9 місяців тому

''No body creates Academy of joy." great speech

@sergepolinabrajnik5935 4 роки тому

Who saw Slava's Snowshow in real ? I had never admired clowns untill i visited the Snowshow on Monaco ... It was fantastic and unforgettable !..

@caitplanchette 3 роки тому

I did!!!

@lechanneldemysterieuxmante1807 2 роки тому

I saw it in NYC many years ago and loved it. So dreamlike. Although I laughed lots, there is also a certain Sad Beauty in it. A truly lovely and strange show

@TheGogogidge 4 роки тому

Saw this show 10 yrs. ago in LA. Have been going to theatre since I was very very young. This is definitely the most magical show I have ever seen. I'm taking 3 adults and 3 children to see in NYC Jan. 4th.

@bzz5601 7 років тому

This is one of the most wonderful things I've ever seen. Thank you to all involved!

@jonand4142 7 років тому

remember when the clowns tried to take the world in 2016.

@hoodiejack 7 років тому

Christian Guzman ikr

@abrahamvelazquez77 7 років тому

Christian Guzman like zombies but this one was real :)

@degiguess 7 років тому

those were filthy birthday clowns

@ramairgto72 7 років тому

The Liberals lost, but the rivers of tears they shed ... poison.

@matthewdrummond1340 7 років тому

Christian Guzman The nice clowns should have tried. The world would be more open to invasion from nice clowns.《(°●°)》

@geckosoparla3141 7 років тому

I'm an teenager that used to play in the highshcool's theater. I'm not in my last year and I have some hard examns up ahead but 2016 was a great year for me as I played in many theaters around the country. As an fellow actor I can relate to this. While most of the plays I've been into were sad ones with a powerfull message, I also played in a comedy. A parody to be more exact, a parody of my country Romaina. That play also had a strong message at the core, like they said in the video, me an my theater group made people laugh about misfortune. We were making fun of the bad things happening here in our coutnry so they could realize this. But in the end it was ment to be comic so yeah. I felt great to see how people laughed when I played. Even if I don't know that well the feeling of making someone laughing, I sitll enjoyed it and loved it while I was on the stage. I fully support this type of theater, the Clown Theater, the Circus Theater. It's interesting to see how vast the theater is.

@nonamelastname8878 7 років тому

The end scene was beautiful!

@kirajai4774 7 років тому

That was very enjoyable :)

@malsawmkima2520 6 років тому

their life is all about making others happy! give respect to them guys. they are the most generous people in this world

@cesarmejiagiron3564 7 років тому

thaks for sharing, lets start the happiness academy

@sundus928 10 місяців тому

So much of Clown theatre and Art feels like they have inspired all those Vintage cartoons like Tom and Jerry and Bugs Bunny. It almost feels like I'm watching a real life cartoon. I see that alot in Bustor Keaton films too. I have selective Mutism due to Autism and I've realised how much Mimes and clowns resonate with me. It's liberating.

@rgawer2 7 років тому

this video made me cry, i felt so much better afterwards.

@davidlape6273 6 років тому

This is beautiful. Thank you for sharing this. NatGeo❤

@OJubilee13 6 років тому

So glad I stumbled upon this one! Inspiring and validating.

@eric7dev 7 років тому

...but doctor, I am Paggliacci...

@user-xc9ox7fr3o 3 місяці тому

Маэстро, мы вас любим и помним, ❤

@jasonp6589 7 років тому

Such an interesting and well done documentary. Thank you.

@Orlirohan 3 роки тому

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ Полунин - Волшебник!

@thomasgainsborough8702 7 років тому

Comedy, next to music, is the highest form of art.

@oopp9442 4 роки тому

Slava is very smart I love his show

@fandomstalking8556 2 роки тому

As a newly expiring clown I’m inspired and I really wanna make people smile but I’m not good with jokes and I’m very robotic so the best I can do for now is joke in a “closet” till I think I’m good enough for the “room”

@heatherracho666 6 років тому

that clowns house is amazing

@FixunaMorgia 6 років тому

This is so awesome! Totally in love with it!

@Tunapie 7 років тому

Damn. This changes my perception of clowns. Thank you.

@YuyiLeal 7 років тому

This philosopher clown is such an awesome dude!!! Super awesome ideas!

@donlotto6976 7 років тому

how lucky could you be to have a rich grandfather that is a professional clown who does tricks and spends time with you

@Lol-ju7ok 7 років тому

just watching this filled me with joy

@affalaffaa 7 років тому

Wasn't expecting to start the day watching a clown documentary. Nice viewing.

@amemename 3 роки тому

Wonderful short, thank you!

@ludmillaroman 4 роки тому

the cameras go so close ... amazing.

@curtisnewton895 7 місяців тому

right, now, how can a clown afford such a mansion again ?

@MONICAANICA 7 років тому

So Beautiful. Thank You

@jeecree884 25 днів тому

Humor is universal language

@CrimeaRiver 5 місяців тому

"This Clown Philosopher Lives in a Wonderful, Whimsical World" _- Wes Anderson, pitching his new film_

@jamescameron2664 7 років тому

Gotta admit that national geographic know how to make a good look video

@rajijojo 7 років тому

This is so beautiful I think I gonna die💀☺😁😂

@aaroninman7370 7 років тому

This clown philosopher lives in a fricken mansion. How is that even possible? Does he own the circus?

@KADASUVA 7 років тому

Years of success doing what he loves. Being a clown entertainer like these guys can be very lucrative.

@SaintJoseph911 7 років тому

maybe he saved up for his entire life. even if you make 45k a year and live off of 20k a year, that's good money if yoy save up 50 years think about that

@JanjayTrollface 7 років тому

Like Slava was saying,create the possibility and make it happen.

@superdr88 7 років тому

Aaron Inman slava snow show it's a very famous performance and he performed in the best theatre of the world, from New York to Milan

@alamaxout 7 років тому

JanjayTrollface ....salad fingers

@pastafiend845 7 років тому

This made me so happy

@Papasic_1973 3 роки тому

Полунин гениален.

@adityagalihwicaksono2307 7 років тому

clown job looks hard

@Templarzealot89 7 років тому

way to step it up national geo. your content in my opinion of late has been very disappointing. this was very well put together and very good content.

@isabellahurley6552 7 років тому

I love this sm ❤️

@sebasmartinez37 5 років тому

Perfect

@redfox2299 7 років тому

Ой так это же Полунин)

@PaulKapow Рік тому

Excellent documentary

@grafforbust 7 років тому

This is fucking awesome

@matthewdrummond1340 7 років тому

This was beautiful *Side note* Where did he get his nose? Seems higher quality than mine.

@VELVETPERSON 7 років тому

Thx alot for that movie

@jfloydman8492 5 років тому

GENIUS

@JohnHenrySheridan 2 роки тому

Fabulous !

@charasime 9 місяців тому

A great documentary that fullfil my passion for clowns 👀

@kopisamsungbrotsanher1310 5 років тому

Genius.

@pmarnoze8321 2 роки тому

He is the most prolific idol in my life

@thedrangler599 7 років тому

That tuba in the background...😂

@delirium11 7 років тому

Great material! Amazing self-research!

@popsickles4425 7 років тому

inspiring

@glazell9748 7 років тому

beautiful

@dittykong9517 7 років тому

18:20 they touched me emotionally in a bad way

@ucntcit 7 років тому

Excellent. You misspelled a subtitle though. At the end it should be "lose" their happiness not "loose."

@krinka1458 2 роки тому

Beautiful message and productions?

@davidaaronartist 6 років тому

i am so moved, i want to be in the school of happiness with you.

@freakshow2203 4 роки тому

Just remember Clowns are humans too. Clowns4Life ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

@abdullahfalah2060 7 років тому

Very inspire

@bennycervantes5696 7 років тому

I think he was just clowning around

@jbpoore5099 7 років тому

anybody know the music they use in the first half can hear it best at 7:56

@steventalbot5203 7 років тому

Good Stuff!

@TheAnalatheist 6 років тому

Reminder that Clowns are holy beings, the great messengers of The Honkmother.

@Ajjoy. 7 років тому

When the recommended video for this is "the killer clown"

@MrJessehalljrw 7 років тому

I really tried not to click on this video... but here I am.

@igneousrock7045 4 роки тому

This clown is the wisest among us all. Does that make us the clowns?

@ColinBurkeMusic 7 років тому

Subtitle error in minute 20:00 ... should be "lose," not "loose," !

@verminnalee6121 7 років тому

I can understand that clowns are meant to be happy, kind characters. However i prefer to meet,and interact with a clown on my own time, because one popping up, or stumbling onto one isn't going to make me so understanding.

@cyrussahukar6387 4 роки тому

Can anyone pl help me with the name of the instrumental piece used in the opening of this video ??

@Gooberpatrol66 7 років тому

2:10 hey look it's Tintin!

@KiskeyaLife 7 років тому

Too bad they couldn't get an interview with Bill Irwin himself.

@xinbeicao6885 6 років тому

Why does the sight of lonely clowns make me so sad?

@amy45472 7 років тому

does anyone know what is the music playing at 16:28 ??

@mariadaluzmoutinho5701 5 років тому

Os palhaços conseguem vestir a sociedade de humor e isso é muito importante ...fazer rir não é fácil e as sociedades humoradas são as mais bem sucedidas ...rir é dos melhores antídotos ...porque é contagiante!! Quem nunca se sentiu na pele de um palhaço sem exercer a profissão??

@Ddominator421 7 років тому

Anyone know the song that starts around 5:08?

@MiguelJuanez 7 років тому

Jake Based I came to post the same question. I tried Shazam but nothing.

@Ddominator421 7 років тому

Miguel Juanez damn, yeah man i've been looking all over the place for it.

@nutROn77 6 років тому

hi! im so happy you like it! I'm the composer and here's a link to it! Enjoy! and thank you! soundcloud.com/d-c-y-f/oot-3-1-v3-clit?in=d-c-y-f/sets/top50originals

@SurviveZ 6 років тому

Did you compose the song around 20:38 as well? I just can't find it and you're the only one listed as composer.