When Viktor meets Gizella one day beside the lake, he takes an interest in her and begins to call on her regularly. The one passion in the life of Gizella, who is unable to speak, is dancing. When Viktor deceives her and she finds him with another woman, she moves away and begins a career as a ballerina. Later, as she is on tour performing “The Dying Swan”, the artist Glinskiy attends her performance. Glinskiy, whose own obsession is to depict death in his art, becomes fascinated by Gizella, and he is determined to use her as a model for a special project.

"Трагическая новелла". Немая танцовщица Гизелла приобретает известность благодаря танцу "Умирающий лебедь". Сумасшедший художник Валерий Глинский рисует танцовщицу, надеясь в ее облике запечатлеть саму смерть. Но Гизелла влюбляется, и в ее глазах начинает светиться жизнь. Художник, не смирившись с утратой натурщицы, душит Гизеллу в той позе, в которой она застывала перед ним прежде.