An excellent psychological/slice-of-life film whose biggest strengths are the invariably topical plot and modern form.
A screen adaptation of a short story of the same title by Andrzej Brycht.
The magnificent score by Wojciech Kilar and documentary-like camerawork of Witold Sobociński perfectly complement the natural scenery of the Wolf's Lair.
The film was the big screen debut of popular actor Olgierd Łukaszewicz, who later worked with Kazimierz Kutz and Andrzej Wajda.
Using two intertwined time frames, this low-key slice-of-life drama tells the story of an ill-fated relationship between two young people having a completely different approach to life and love.
In Adolf Hitler's former headquarters in Gierłoż, 20-year-old Waldek is scanning the crowd of tourists in search for a girl he was once deeply in love with. He recalls the time when two years earlier, just before joining the army, he met the beautiful, cynical Anka. The young yet experienced girl was his first serious love. However, for Anka, who came from a well-off family and was highly popular among her hip peers, it was just a summer fling. Initially blinded by his love for her, Waldek was painfully disappointed when he discovered her true nature. Despite this, he cannot forget her.
Following its completion, the film had to wait three years before it hit the screens.
One of its perks is the masterful cameo by Zdzisław Maklakiewicz as a guide.
