The Monkey Talks

In the desperate, sawdust-covered world of a failing circus, the line between human dignity and animalistic performance is erased for a few francs. The Monkey Talks follows the tragic trajectory of Fritzo, a diminutive acrobat who sacrifices his identity to save his troupe. He dons a hyper-realistic chimpanzee costume, performing a 'talking ape' act so convincing it borders on the supernatural. The ruse works too well, bringing fame and fortune but trapping Fritzo in a literal and metaphorical cage. When he falls deeply in love with Olivette, the circus's radiant tightrope walker, he is forced to watch her from behind a mask of fur and greasepaint. The film explores the psychological toll of being loved for what you pretend to be while being completely invisible for who you actually are.