My first urge is to complain: Who translated the movie as it is mentioned in the section "Also known as"---"The balloonist? The translator, obviously has not seen the film. It has nothing to do with ballooning. The term is an old-fashioned one for "aerial traveler" or "aviator". It is a story of a wrestler (strong man) performer in the Odessa Circus circa 1908. He falls in love with flying AIRPLANES(not balloons) partly because of trying to impress a woman who "flew in" from France... This is as far as I can go if I don't want to spoil the movie. ALSO, it is a great movie for anyone who is reading it that has a special place in their heart for the beautiful city of Odessa, especially during the dawn of the XXth century(one of several periods of Odessa's prosperity). Tomorrow(September 2nd) is Odessa's 211th birthday. HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ODESSA!!!!