Odessa at the turn of 20-th century. Ivan Poddubny, a longshore-man, and Anatoly Durov, a clown, are employed at Odessa circus. They are far from glory yet and they are both exploited by the circus masters and face meanness and craftiness. In Petersburg Poddubny looses a wrestle by refusing to fight with Bouchet, a Frenchman who has rubbed oil into his skin. Having received an emotional stress he decides to quit sport. But returns and wins the fight with Bouchet in Paris.
Source : www.mosfilm.ru