The 2011 romance drama “Water for Elephants” from Fox 2000 was directed by Francis Lawrence with the screenplay written by Richard LaGravenese based on the novel of the same name by Sara Gruen. Starring: Reese Witherspoon, Robert Pattinson, Christoph Waltz, Hal Holbrook, Mark Povinelli, Richard Brake, Stephen Taylor, Ken Foree, Scott MacDonald and James Frain.
Jacob (Robert Pattinson) was in university studying veterinarian medicine; an accomplishment that had made his family extremely proud. He was doing his best to be the top of his class — he had his life well-laid out and his grades were exceptional. But all of that changed in a heartbeat when he was called out of an exam room and told that his parents had been killed. Now all of his plans seems futile and worthless; without a family and a home, Jacob felt he had nothing to live for.
But as he walked down the railroad tracks going anywhere, a circus train began to pass him and with a leap of faith, he jumped aboard, managing to meet the owner of the circus, August (Christopher Waltz) a powerful and unforgiving man. August was ready to throw him off the train until he learned of Jacob’s veterinarian skills; this was just enough to secure him a job tending the animals.
When they arrived at their destination, Jacob was introduced to a completely different world. As August put it, this was a world that “suckers only dream of” and when Jacob saw Marlena (Reese Witherspoon), the wife of his boss August and the circus horse trainer, he knew that his life was now totally changed.
As much as he was grateful for a new beginning, he was tormented by the way August treated Marlena; he used his power as a weapon to keep everyone on edge and he was physically abusive of Marlena in private and in public. Jacob was warned that no one was allowed to speak to Marlena, but Jacob was long pass the point of return. He was hopelessly in love with a woman who was out of his reach.
Marlena worked with Jacob showing him the ropes of circus life and providing him with the information he needed to do his work. As time passed the chemistry between them became undeniable and a passionate affair that neither of them could afford began. Now they were faced with the choice of remaining secret lovers or breaking free of August and leave on their own.
