Helmut Doork, a former famous circus clown now past his prime, faces struggles in a circus during World War II. After causing an accident, he is demoted but stands up for himself with his wife's encouragement. When he overhears plans to fire him, he drunkenly mocks Hitler and is arrested by the Gestapo. Imprisoned for political reasons, he boasts about his past fame in prison. Doork befriends a fellow prisoner named Johann Keltner who opposes the Nazis. When Jewish prisoners arrive, Doork tries to entertain them, leading to his beating by other inmates. Despite the risks, he continues performing for the children until SS guards intervene, resulting in Keltner's death and Doork's isolation. The commandant assigns him to assist in transporting Jewish children to Auschwitz, and Doork ends up leading them to their deaths in the gas chamber, feeling remorseful and ultimately choosing to stay with them in their final moments.
