Documentary
United States of America
Circus of Books is a documentary film that explores the history of a notorious adult bookstore, which was a staple of the LGBT community in Los Angeles for decades. The film delves into the lives of Karen and Barry Mason, who were just an ordinary couple with young children, until they became the unlikely proprietors of one of the most iconic gay porn shops in the country. The film shows how they managed to balance their ordinary lives as an American family while running a business that catered to a marginalized, yet rapidly mobilizing community.
The film takes a close look at some of the most pivotal moments in the history of the LGBT community, including the Stonewall riots, the spread of HIV and AIDS, and the fight for gay rights. It also explores the numerous legal battles that the Masons faced, including a high-profile federal obscenity trial that put their business and their family on the line.
Despite the many obstacles they faced, the Masons managed to keep their store open and thriving for decades, even as the world around them changed. The film includes interviews with the Masons, as well as with members of their family and the wider LGBT community. Overall, Circus of Books provides an intimate look at a unique business and the complex, passionate people who made it possible.
