Invisible Circus

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Invisible Circus ★½ 2000 (R)

Comingofage drama set in 1976 of a young woman, Phoebe (Brewster), who treks through Europe in an attempt to solve the mystery of her older sister Faith (Diaz), a radical hippie who died there seven years ago. Her Nancy Drewlike sleuthing leads her to the big, bad Wolf (Eccleston) in Paris, Faith's old boho boyfriend, now a bourgeois married. Somewhat unlikely tales emerge about Faith's dealings with German terrorists gone bad and bring Phoebe closer to the truth and danger. Story told much like many a late 1960s memory, in confusing flashback fashion, and lacks adequate pacing. Brewster has inspired moments, along with Danner as the girls' mother, while Diaz seems an unlikely terrorist. Based on the novel by Jennifer Egan. 98m/C VHS, DVD . US Cameron Diaz, Jordana Brewster, Christopher Eccleston, Blythe Danner, Patrick Bergin, Moritz Bleibtreu, Isabelle Pasco; D: Adam Brooks; W: Adam Brooks; C: Henry Braham; M: Nick Laird-Clowes.