Finnish director Pirjo Honkasalo directed this Finnish-Swedish circus drama, tracing the lives of three women from WWII to the present day. Abandoned by their mother Sirkka (Tiina Weekstrom), Helena (Elena Leeve) and her twin sister Irene (Elsa Saisio) are raised by their communist grandmother. One day Sirkka returns, bringing along Spanish trapeze artist Ramon (Jordi Borrell), who sees Irene as a potential circus star, delegating the "untalented" Helena to backstage obscurity. As it develops, Helena is actually more talented, secretly studying the art of fire-eating. Shown at the 1998 Cannes Film Festival.
~ Bhob Stewart, All Movie Guide