In a bleak, unnamed town in Hungary during a harsh winter, János Valuska, a young newspaper delivery man, captivates a group of drunken patrons by performing about a total eclipse of the sun, which momentarily disrupts and then quiets the local animals. This unique act concludes with the much-anticipated return of the warm sunlight.
János shares a close bond with his ‘uncle,’ György Eszter, a composer and musicologist who plays a paternal role in his life. György meticulously documents his thoughts on the imperfections of the musical scale, inspired by Werckmeister's theories, and suggests revisions to harmonize music more organically.
One day, János visits the post office to collect his newspapers. The employees there express worry about impending troubles as they sense the “circus” is nearing—a traveling show known for leaving tension in its wake. A peculiar circus arrives at night, showcasing a massive, stuffed whale and its elusive star performer, known only as "The Prince." János contemplates profound ideas about existence while observing the circus’s surreal arrival.
Meanwhile, György's estranged wife, Tünde, exploits her social standing, pressuring György to spearhead the "Clean Up the Town movement,” backed by the local police chief. She threatens to move back in with him if he refuses, sending her suitcase ahead with János as a messenger. Caught in turmoil, György’s brother, Uncle Lajos, disseminates Tünde's demands to a disgruntled crowd in the town square, fueling their anger over declining public services. Faced with a thug outside the circus, János begins to feel the oppressive atmosphere tightening around him. Tünde, in an alarming partnership, spends time with the intoxicated police chief.
As tensions mount, the arrival of the whale and “The Prince” incite chaos among the townsfolk. János overhears a panic-stricken circus master struggling to control his mute Prince, now revealing revolutionary sentiments through a translator, igniting the mob’s fervor. The rioting crowd, armed with crude weapons, invades a hospital where they brutalize defenseless patients, only to cease when confronted by the reality of their own despair reflected in an old, vulnerable man.
After the tumult, János discovers a diary belonging to a rioter that conveys their confusion and aimless fury towards their reality. The tragic tale takes a darker turn as it discusses the horrors inflicted upon two young women. On his way home, János witnesses Tünde clandestinely meeting with a military official, leading to their departure aboard a military vehicle, accompanied by armed forces.
János soon learns of Lajos' death amid the riots and is warned by Lajos's wife to flee, as he is now a target. He escapes toward the railway tracks but is snatched up by a helicopter. This startling turn of events lands him in a mental institution, a chilling reminder of the era's political repression. During a visit, György attempts to share the aftermath of the chaos with János, who remains unresponsive, gazing into an empty void. György reveals his struggles—having been forced out of their home while Tünde, now aligned with the authorities, occupies their former residence. He mentions his plan for a simpler life in a shed with János if they are reunited, albeit with a re-tuned piano symbolizing resignation to their plight.
The film reaches its somber conclusion with György silently traversing the town square. He gazes into the haunting sight of the abandoned whale, now a symbol of lost hope, before looking back one last time at the desolate remnants of the circus, enveloped by creeping fog, leaving an indelible impression of sorrow and decay.
