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The Rosaires are a circus family with nine generations of animal handling in their heritage. Circuses are dying in the modern world, but the Rosaires seem resilient, even as they watch the circus industry slowly collapse around them. That may be because they love the animals at least as much as the work. Their retinue of lions, tigers, bears, dogs, and chimpanzees are all career circus animals, either born in captivity or picked up as rescue animals. Circus Rosaire gives faint hints of just how costly it is to house so many animals and treat them well, but they don’t mind. For them, the animals are life.

Filmmaker Robin Bliley spent a lot of time with the Rosaires, tracking their daily routines, getting a sense of the evolution of their business, and just getting to know the family. Her documentary reflects the family: interesting, messy, and warm.

Q: How did you first hear of the Rosaires?

A: I first met the Rosaire family on my sixth birthday, when my mom took me to the circus. At that time, they were the headliners in the biggest circuses around and performed in huge stadiums and arenas entertaining thousands of adoring fans.  I remember being fascinated and awestruck by their almost telepathic communication they had with their animals. They definitely stood out from the rest of the circus performers. We went backstage after the show so I could see the animals up close, and we met Roger Zoppe, Pamela Rosaire’s husband.  Our lifelong friendship began.  Anytime they were performing within 500 miles of Memphis, Tennessee, where I was born and raised, my mom and I would jump in our truck and meet up with them. I remember their chimpanzee Kenya and I were about the same age and we would eat sandwiches together and hang out.  She would set the table and interact with me like another person.  Experiences like that helped form my respect and love for animals of all kinds.  Pam and Roger still have Kenya today and she appears in the film.

Q: What attracted you to their story?

A: When I was growing up, the circus was magical and enchanting and the Rosaires were superstars.  Many years later as a young adult, I saw the Rosaires perform again and was shocked and saddened by how things had changed. The huge stadium arena, with the 3 ornate and spectacular circus rings where they had performed in their heyday, was now a dusty rodeo ring in a small Texas field with a handful of people more interested in their beer and hotdogs. I wondered how a family, who at one time performed for presidents and kings, found themselves struggling to survive. I knew in my core that this was a perfect backdrop for a great story.  The kind of story I wanted to tell. One full of drama, laughter, struggle and pathos.  To me, the Rosaires are not just circus performers, they are circus heroes, going through Herculean efforts in order to make show dates, taking immaculate care of their animals along the way, all in order to put a smile on a kid’s face in the audience and continue their family legacy. I feel that “Circus Rosaire” captures a small piece of American culture and history that is disappearing before our very eyes. The circus will never be the same after this current generation of circus performers has passed.

Q: How rare are the Rosaires? Are they the only animal handlers that treat their animals humanely?

A: Fortunately, in my experience, I have never seen animal handlers mistreat their animals, however I do think the Rosaires are incredibly unique.  Their eternal devotion and sacrifice for their animals is a beautiful thing to see.  Along with performing in circuses and shows around the country, the Rosaire family is dedicated to running their non-profit animal sanctuary in Sarasota, Florida.  Many of the animals they perform with are animals they have rescued.  They are passionate about animal welfare and adopting exotic animals in need of homes, health and love.  There aren’t too many people I know who would put their animals needs before their own, and the Rosaires do that.

Q: Was there a single Rosaire you were particularly fond of? Why?

A: Oh, I love all the members of the Rosaire family.  I have known Pam and Roger, the chimp trainers, longer than the others so I share a deeper bond with them.  I feel my strong and trusting relationship with all the members of the Rosaire family allowed me incredible access to an otherwise very private family.

Q: How about a single animal?

A: Ricky the chimpanzee, Pam and Roger’s youngest “son”, and I became fast friends.  We shared some meals together and bonded.  He’s become quite the celebrity because of the film and has a very memorable scene in “Circus Rosaire” known as the “Yes/No” scene.  It’s always one of the audiences’ favorites.  It is definitely worth the price of admission!

Q: Just how badly did the feeding room stink?

A: It’s definitely very odiferous, especially the big cat feeding enclosure because they’re carnivores. There’s nothing like the smell of raw meat and blood juice!

Q: About how many months out of the year do the younger Rosaires spend on the road?

A: As many months as they can get work.  It varies from year to year.  They’d like to be out on the road all year if they could, but with circuses dwindling and less requests for animal acts, the work has been scarce.

Q: Are injuries common?

A: Fortunately no.  Although each member of the family has a story to tell and scars to prove it. 

Q: Have the Rosaires continued to put on family shows?

A: Yes.  Since completing the film, they’ve had two big family circuses on their property in Sarasota and performed for sold out crowds. In addition, each weekend they open the sanctuary to the public and educate visitors about the plight of animals in the wild and address the importance of conservation and preservation.

Q: Do you agree that the time of the circus has passed?

A: The traditional circus is, I believe, in the process of making its final bow.  Just like vaudeville and other turn of the century forms of entertainment, the circus is struggling to adapt to the temper of the times.  The great traditional traveling circus companies have always been synonymous with famous families who pass their talent and knowledge from generation to generation where it has been maintained.  But economic and social changes are breaking up these traditions, and the young people today born into circus families see circus life as too difficult to pursue.  So the tradition is slowly disappearing.

Q: What do you think has led to the circus decline?

A: In this modern age of entertainment, we’re spoiled by the high-financed glamour and technological wizardry of the movies and it’s difficult to be impressed with simpler forms of entertainment.  I think that’s one of the reasons why Cirque du Soleil has been so successful. Not only is it an incredible art form in it’s own right, but the shows are produced with cutting edge special effects that appeal to the modern day audience. It has redefined circus. And as innovative as Cirque du Soleil is, I think something valuable to the history of our culture is being lost.

Q: Your (excellent) soundtrack is mostly written and performed by Jimmy Segerson. Were those original songs? Why did you go with him?

A: Jimmy is a well-known guitarist, singer and songwriter who has been a mainstay on Beale Street and many other legendary music venues in Memphis for decades.  He has a huge following, not only among his fans, but the musicians as well. He has been a long time friend of the Rosaires and I knew that he would capture their essence in music like no other. I’m so proud of the soundtrack and the fact he’s my uncle makes it even more special!

Q: Have the Rosaires seen your documentary? What did they think?

A: They saw “Circus Rosaire” for the first time when it screened at the Sarasota Film Festival and were incredibly moved by the film and the powerful reaction of the audience. I was so relieved that they loved it. They said we made them proud.  Doesn’t get any better than that!

And whether or not one agrees with the use of animals in circuses or entertainment, I believe “Circus Rosaire” challenges all of us to look inward at how we judge and perceive others. I think the role of any documentarian is to inspire people to look at the world through different lenses.

Q: Have they gotten more attention because of it?

A: Yes, they have.  It’s been amazing to see the affect the film is having with audiences as far as dispelling some myths surrounding exotic animals in captivity and what it is the Rosaires do and their commitment to their animal partners.  It has given me deep and profound satisfaction that they have received numerous donations as a result of the film for their Big Cat Habitat and Gulf Coast Sanctuary.  They currently have over 40 big cats, 16 bears, 6 chimpanzees---mostly rescued animals—as well as monkeys, birds, horses, goats, sheep, camels and even a big steer named Bubba.  They have a lot of mouths to feed and it’s extraordinarily expensive, so they rely on donations.  To think that this little film, “Circus Rosaire”, has inspired people to want to help them is incredible.

Q: Where do you see the Rosaires in 10 years?

A: I’m hoping they will be at a place financially where they can retire from living the life of gypsy performers traveling from one city to the next, and be able to stay at home in Sarasota, perform on their property there and run the sanctuary full time.

Circus Rosaire

Target 10 Documentary Feature Competition
(USA, 2007, 93 mins)
Digibeta
Regional Premiere

Directed By: Robyn Bliley
Featuring: Pamela Rosaire
Producers: Robyn Bliley, Chad Wilson
Cinematographer: Chad Wilson
Editor: Monique Zavistovski

The traditional circus is a dying business and that’s why Derrick Rosaire Sr. encouraged his five children to become doctors or lawyers, but to no avail. For nine generations circus life is all the Rosaire family has known. They have passed down their love and respect for the wild animals they train and treat like their own children.
Robyn Billey, actress turned director, first met the Rosaire family when she was 6 years old in Tennessee while the family was on tour. Shot over five years, this documentary is a generous and loving portrait of an amazing family and their willingness to sacrifice everything for their animals.

They struggle to find work, travel cross country, get picketed by animal activist and take odd jobs just to feed the animals. They experience their share of tragedy and shoulder it all with a “The Show Must Go On” attitude.

Screening Times:

Wednesday, April 2nd 7:00pm
Magnolia 3

Thursday, April 3rd 4:15pm
Magnolia 4

Saturday, April 5th 4:00pm
Angelika 7

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