The film’s script is a loose adaptation of Julian Kawalec’s novel „Ziemi przypisany”. It points to villagers’ tragic material circumstances as one of the key factors that contributed to the crime.
A son of a small farmer, Wojciech Trepa stands trial over murder. Thirty years back, he killed Kotula, the father of his sister’s would-be husband. The marriage was called off, following Kotula’s demand of the Trepas-owned land in dowry. Charges faced by Wojciech were dropped due to the lack of evidence. Years later, he killed a man whom he suspected of having witnessed that crime. The first murder was a kind of punishment for greediness, while the second one resulted from living one’s life in a constant fear of the truth. The prosecutor conducts an in-depth analysis of both cases, looking into the reasons behind them and factors determining the events. The prosecutor is an example of a person who managed to overcome poverty and became successful. He vividly recalls the hardships of the rural life and how easy it was make a mistake. Coming up with the right verdict in the trial poses a great dilemma for the prosecutor.
