Starkiss - Circus meisjes in india

Confined to a separate compartment of a circus terrain about 50 girls live, sold by their parents to the Great Rayman Circus in India. Most of them are from the even poorer neighbouring country of Nepal. The brother of the human fountain artist has smuggled them across the border. The often very young girls talk about their homesickness, performing in the circus and their expectations of the future. According to the owner of the circus that future is not very bright. If the circus is not for them, the girls end up in the red light district of Bombay, most of the time. The other options are limited to rolling cigarettes, selling wood or marriage. Until that time the girls keep performing in a fairytale world for an audience that cannot see the pain behind it. ‘Keep smiling’, is the order of the trainer as they are hoisted to the peak of the circustent, holding on to a bit with their teeth for the ‘Starkiss’. The documentary follows and interviews three girls: the little acrobat Sangita of about 7, the 12 year old acrobat Anita Viswakarma and the sword and parrot artiste Anita Das, 17, who has a secret love affair with Ravi the clown. The miniature man Saipan, who fits in a shopping bag, functions as a postiljon d’amour. Together with Ali Baba, the old night watch, he’s the only man who has access to the girls’ compartment. Apart from that television is the only contact with the frightening outside world.