Chicky

His father was a hat maker in Jona, and his mother was a saleswoman. From an early age, little Eugen Altenburger hung around Circus Knie in nearby Rapperswil. Since he had no money, he took the hand of a stranger and walked with her into the tent for free. He sought the company of the performers and began practicing with them whenever he had free time. He then worked unpaid in an arena, a circus without a tent, traveling across the country with it and gradually finding his place in the circus world: he made people laugh. Over time, the tents grew larger, engagements across Europe followed, including with Circus Knie, until he eventually became the house clown of Circus Krone. With great sensitivity to the telling detail, Jean-Robert Probst narrates the unusual story of the clown "Chicky" and brings to life the fascinating yet tough life of circus people.