No international circuses claim the audience size, the raw invention, or the revenue of the Cirque du Soleil. An enterprise that took shape on a grassroots level at the hands of two Quebecois street performers in the early '80s, it grew into an epic form thanks to the involvement of Franco Dragone and others; by the beginning of the 21st century, the brand was nothing short of iconic. Throughout, it distinguished itself by doing away with the more clichéd staples of a traditional circus (such as animals, curtains, and a ring) and bringing together indigenous circus styles utilized in other portions of the world; it also presented itself in the form of uniquely "themed" shows, many of which ran concurrently in different regions or even in the same city. As directed by David Mallet, the concert film Cirque du Soleil: Delirium constitutes the first real cinematization of a Cirque du Soleil show and certainly the first to score a mainstream theatrical run in the United States. The theme at hand pertains to humankind's need for balance and harmony in an increasingly chaotic and desynchronized world; in it, Mallet choreographs innumerable singers, dancers, and other performers to a raw tribal beat and surrealistic visuals. ~ Nathan Southern, Rovi