Sideline

The film is adaptation of Jan Himilsbach’s short story „Partanina” (“The Mess-up”) from the compilation “Przepychanka” (“Push and Shove”) and stays true to the mood of its literary inspiration presenting the lives and work of people from the margins of society, who are nevertheless sensitive and share a unique sense of togetherness, people who do odd jobs but also follow own work ethics.

The protagonists, Zgred and Dudek are stone masons. They don’t expect much from life. One day they get a job in another town – making a statue for a rich widow. After completing the job and receiving their pay they plan their return to Warsaw. They are stopped by an old man in a cemetery who says he’s the chairman of the municipal council. He offers them a lot of money for repairing an old tombstone. Regional authorities must not know about the operation, so they have to work at night. The old man invites them to a restaurant where he tells them about his passion – stories of Piotr Wysocki – the hero who spent many years in the town after his return from exile in Siberia.  The task nears completion. During the last night, while the coffin is being moved to the new tomb, the man tells them the truth. He isn’t a city official, just an ordinary history teacher who decided to renovate the tomb for his own money. They masons are moved and take only half of the agreed fee.