CIRCUS (WT)

Munich, early 20th century. Young Pauline (Julia Novohradsky) scrapes by as a thief. Her dream: New Zealand, the place her father used to rave about – the end of the world, where a woman can become whatever she wants. When a jewellery heist goes wrong, she flees from the police into a moving carriage and ends up next to an elephant: on the Menagerie Continental train, a circus on the brink of ruin. Carl (Rick Okon), the new director, left the circus as a child and now wants to sell his inheritance. But when he steps into the ring for the first time, he is seized by a vision: the world’s largest big top, electric lighting, an orchestra. He convinces the animal dealer Brockstätt (Heino Ferch) – at the cost of a clause that could cost him everything. And he succeeds – and falls in love with Ida (Laura Berlin), the world’s best lion tamer – the woman whom another man considers his property. Suddenly, everything seems possible. Pauline finds something with the troupe that she never sought: a family. And she is drawn up onto the high wire, to the much-acclaimed Camillo (Diyar Agit), who first laughs at her – and then persuades her to let herself fall for the very first time. But when Carl can no longer pay, Brockstätt names his price: Pauline.