Circus of Books
2019 · Movie · 92 min · ★ 6.9 · 86% critics
A Jewish couple unexpectedly builds a long-running business around an adult bookstore that becomes a key gathering place for gay Los Angeles. Their filmmaker child looks back at family tensions, shifting social attitudes, and the community’s struggles and resilience across the 1980s and 1990s.
Where to watch
Streaming on Netflix.
2 hours to watch.
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Details
- Years
- 2019
- Release date
- 2019-04-26
- Language
- English
- Runtime
- 92 min
- Max quality
- HD
- Critic score
- 86/100
- TMDB rating
- 6.9/10 (103 votes)
About
You’ll likely enjoy this if you want an intimate, heartfelt documentary that blends family dynamics with a slice of LGBTQ history and changing social pressures; Not for you if adult-business subject matter or uneven focus bothers you.
Pros: moving family portrait; LGBTQ history snapshot; warm, humorous moments | Cons: focus drifts midway; some hypocrisy explored; adult content themes
Themes
- bookshop
- 1970s
- hollywood
- book store
- gay pornography
- gay history
- gay theme
- gay rights
Cast & crew
Rachel Mason
as Herself
- JM
Josh Mason
as Himself
Larry Flynt
as Himself
Jeff Stryker
as Himself
Alaska Thunderfuck
as Himself
- PT
Phil Tarley
as Himself
- JW
John Weston
as Himself
- DN
Don Norman
as Himself
- DG
David Gregory
as Himself
- DW
Dorian Wood
as Himself
Directed by Rachel Mason