Victorian surgeon Frederick Treves meets John Merrick, a man with severe skeletal and soft-tissue deformities who has been forced by society into a life of exploitation in a circus sideshow. As Treves spends more time with him, Merrick reveals his intelligence, gentle spirit, and deep sense of dignity, and the two form a profound friendship. With this poignant second feature, David Lynch applies his atmospheric visual and sonic style to a moving true story, cementing his status as one of American cinema’s most visionary filmmakers and earning multiple major Oscar nominations, including Best Director.