A dramatic story of an old man who was frequently treated as a traitor and a ruthless person because of different coincidences.
Two half-brothers Rafał and Karol decide to live together in one house when they grow old. Rafał spends most of his time dwelling on his quite complicated life. Karol moves in with him after spending a long time in prison. In 1914 Rafał, who’s 18 years old, is saved from a carriage sinking in a deep pond. However, he’s accused of robbing the carriage passengers and willful misconduct that led to their drowning. He is sentenced to death. During the execution the Austrians enter the town. Taking advantage of the commotion, Rafał manages to escape. He joins the legions. For sparing a Cossack’s life he’s charged with treason. He’s to face a Polish marital court. Having heard the charges he sets off escorted by his friend – Edward. They meet a Cossack patrol and both get wounded. They find a hiding place at Edward’s cousin – Naścia. Rafał and the girl start falling for each other. Scared by the girl’s epileptic seizure Rafał runs away to Silesia and gets a job in a mine where he soon stands at the helm of a strike. The strike is put to an end by the police under Eward’s lead. Rafał gets a job in an amusement park owned by his half-brother Karol who hates Poles. After a quarrel with his brother, he denounces the communists that collaborate with him. Rafał ends up in prison. With the help of Edwad who’s already become a general, Rafał is released from prison. He comes back to Naścia. Edward is secretly murdered and Rafał becomes a suspect. Charged with the crime, he’s sentenced to life imprisonment. In 1939, during an air strike, he manages to escape from prison. Naścia is killed during a shooting. Rafał buries her and sets the house on fire and moves into a dugout. In 1946 Karol, who is now blind, has to face the Polish military court. After his prison sentence comes to an end, he comes back to Rafał.
