When Jacob Jankowski recently orphaned and suddenly adrift jumps onto a passing train he enters a world of freaks grifters and misfits the Benzini Brothers Most Spectacular Show on Earth a second-rate travelling circus struggling to survive during the Great Depression making one-night stands in town after endless town. Jacob a veterinary student who almost earned his degree is put in charge of caring for the circus menagerie. It is there that he meets Marlena the beautiful young star of the equestrian act who is married to August the charismatic but twisted animal trainer. He also meets Rosie an elephant who seems untrainable until he discovers a way to reach her. Water for Elephants is illuminated by a wonderful sense of time and place. It tells a story of a love between two people that overcomes incredible odds in a world in which even love is a luxury that few can afford. Water for Elephants was a major movie starring Robert Pattinson and Reese Witherspoon.