Circus of Books
A daughter’s candid investigation of her parents’ unlikely role in Los Angeles queer history through the family-run Circus of Books.
Overview
A fascinating look into a hidden world that shaped LGBTQ culture in America.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- None
- witty
- intimate
- revealing
- documentary night
- lgbtq+ history viewing
What critics said
Critics broadly praised the film as a cheeky, intimate, and revealing documentary that uncovers layered family and queer cultural history beneath an unlikely bookstore business.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Rachel Mason examines her parents' long-running adult bookstore business and their emotional distance from her queer identity.
Circus of Books becomes an entry point into gay pornography distribution, community life, and gay rights in Los Angeles.
The Masons' family life and business responsibilities are juxtaposed with their distribution of gay pornography.
The store's role in distributing queer materials links private business decisions to wider shifts in gay representation and rights.
Films like Circus of Books, and why
The Times of Harvey Milk
intimate documentary portrait of queer history, family dynamics, and changing social attitudes
Paris Is Burning
personal lgbtq+ cultural history shaped through archival material and candid testimony
How to Survive a Plague
warm, revealing documentary about sexuality, identity, and communities living beyond mainstream norms
Stories We Tell
family-centered documentary portrait that uses one household to explore broader cultural change
Movie Details
- Director
- Rachel Mason
- Release Date
- 2019-04-26
- Runtime
- 92 min
- Rating
- 6.8 / 10 (109)
Cast
- Rachel Mason
- Josh Mason
- Larry Flynt
- Jeff Stryker
- Alaska Thunderfuck
- Phil Tarley
- John Weston
- Don Norman
- David Gregory
- Dorian Wood
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Netflix, Netflix Standard with Ads
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Circus of Books about?
- A daughter’s candid investigation of her parents’ unlikely role in Los Angeles queer history through the family-run Circus of Books.
- What is Circus of Books like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Circus of Books as measured, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Circus of Books violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in Circus of Books.
- What did critics think of Circus of Books?
- Critics broadly praised the film as a cheeky, intimate, and revealing documentary that uncovers layered family and queer cultural history beneath an unlikely bookstore business.
- Which films are like Circus of Books?
- Films with a similar feel include The Times of Harvey Milk, Paris Is Burning, How to Survive a Plague, and Stories We Tell.
- How long is Circus of Books?
- Circus of Books runs 92 minutes.
- Where can I watch Circus of Books?
- In United States, Circus of Books streams on Netflix, Netflix Standard with Ads.
