In a mental institution in Mexico, the former circus artist Fenix is showing progress in his treatment. Fenix had tragic childhood in the circus owned by his father Orgo, who is a knife thrower. During a performance, his mother Concha, who is a trapeze artist and a fanatic religious woman, sees from the trapeze her husband cheating on her with The Tattooed Woman. She leaves the trapeze, locks Fenix in the trailer and throws acid on Orgo's penis. Orgo uses his knives to cut off both arms of Concha and commit suicide. The Tattooed Woman flees from the circus with her deaf and dumb stepdaughter Alma, who is Fenix's best friend, and Fenix sees everything. One night, Fenix sees The Tattooed Woman in a red-light district and soon he escapes from the institution. He meets Concha and their former friend Aladin and works in a theater, with Fenix performing Concha's arms. Meanwhile, Concha controls him and Fenix begins a crime spree.—Claudio Carvalho, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil