If you’ve ever wanted to run away to the circus (who hasn’t?), Always Far Away will be a must-see, offering us deep insights into life in the big top within today’s changing world, as seen through the eyes of three young brothers born into the circus community.
Roman Ďuriš’ film follows a dying nomadic community struggling to stay relevant and afloat in the modern day. “Many traveling circuses, with a history of over a century, have gone bankrupt, or are doing other things in recent years. Therefore, the youngest generation of circus acts face a new challenge: how to adapt the circus to this new era,” producer Richard Šimeček tells BDE ahead of their presentation to the professional audience in Warsaw.
It’s a tough life growing up in the circus, a closed world which is steeped in tradition, with many demands and expectations placed upon performers almost from birth. As the synopsis outlines, growing up in a marginalized community of traveling circus performers makes adolescence—a key time for forming identity—particularly challenging. Even young children are seen as professional athletes, expected to perform dangerous stunts. This is the reality for Vojta and his brothers, Nikolas and Venca. The Lánik family’s nomadic life shapes their relationships: constantly on the move, they glimpse the world but struggle to form lasting bonds.
The film follows Vojta’s experience, trying to make sense of the world he’s growing up in. He wants to please his parents, but at the same time, he begins to question whether this world is for him.
The director is well placed to tell this story. Having made Fakir (2025, nominated for Best Film, Prague One World Festival), which tells the story of a young man from a similar environment to his current project, it’s clearly a subject that resonates with him as a filmmaker. “He knows these people and their customs well, which allows him to penetrate deeper into their lives,” says Šimeček.
This deep access into the community informs director Ďuriš’ cinematic approach, allowing the protagonist’s story to unfold in front of our eyes. “We are shooting this film using the observational method, the camera is always close to the hero, capturing his emotions in various situations and thus helping to connect the viewer with the main character,” Šimeček adds.
Which is surely the kind of access that every documentary filmmaker craves. That, and the ability to capture the moment of change or revelation in the protagonist’s life. In this case, we witness a young man who is questioning his pre-defined role in his society. In a wider sense, as the synopsis posits, the film asks whether any of us can happiness in roles defined by others.
While the team is planning on a release date in 2027, the final release strategy and campaign will be firmed up during post-production.
Šimeček is buoyant about their bringing the project to MDAG. “The platform brings many positives – it gives us feedback, increases awareness of our film, and last but not least, it allows us to connect with other professionals,” he concludes.
