When young Jacob Jankowski, recently orphaned and suddenly adrift, jumps onto a passing train, he enters a world of freaks, drifters and misfits with a second rate circus struggling to survive during the great depression. A veterinary student, Jacob is put in charge of caring for the circus animals. It is there that he meets Marlyna, the beautiful young star of the equestrian act who is married to August, the charismatic but twisted animal trainer. He also meets Rosie, an elephant who seems untrainable until he discovers a surprising way to reach her.
