After his parents' sudden death, veterinary student Jacob Jankowski joins a traveling circus during the Great Depression. He finds himself in a world of freaks, grifters, and performers, where he falls for Marlena, the beautiful equestrian star. However, she is married to the charismatic but dangerously volatile animal trainer, August. As Jacob's bond with Marlena and an un-trainable elephant named Rosie deepens, their forbidden love story unfolds against the magical, yet perilous, backdrop of the circus, leading to a dramatic and unforgettable conclusion.