Balada Triste (Balada Triste de Trompeta)

1937, Spain is in the midst of the brutal Civil War. The Happy clown is interrupted mid-performance and forcibly recruited by Republican militia. Still in his costume, he is handed a machete and led into battle against National soldiers, where he single-handedly massacres an entire platoon. Fast forward to 1973, the tail end of the Franco regime. The clown’s son, Javier, dreams of following in his father's career footsteps, but has seen too much tragedy in his life — he's simply not funny and only equipped to play the Sad Clown. He joins a circus where he befriends an outlandish cast of characters, but as the Sad Clown he must take the abuse of the brutish Happy Clown Sergio, who humiliates Javier daily in the name of entertainment. The two clowns will then fight each other mercilessly out of love for acrobat Natalia, the most beautiful and cruel circus artist.