1937 Spanish civil war, circus' clowns are recruited by force to join the militia and the butchery starts as they are still in their clown costume. Years after, Javier y Sergio, two terrifyingly disfigured clowns battle to the death to win an acrobat's ambiguous love. Their incredible confrontation is a satirical reflection of Franco's dictatorship during which the story takes place. As in the drama between the two Spains, both clowns destroy the object of their love in their struggle.