A landmark for being the film that made Asta Nielsen internationallyknown, simultaneously promoting the idea of film as art. It was shot under themost primitive conditions on sets constructed in a prison yard. She plays a youngmusic teacher who is lured into the nomadic life of the circus by a performingcowboy with a roving eye. In an extraordinary scene, she literally lassos him,then in the scandalously erotic "gaucho dance" expresses her passionand desperation. "Her style was in direct opposition to the reigningtechnique of exaggerated gesticulation°a restrained, naturalistic style°rivetingattention on her expressive face." (Robert C. Allen)