A cloak-and-dagger historical film presenting the story of Aleksander Kostka-Napierski. For the purposes of the communist propaganda the controversial hero was strongly idealized and the peasant revolt triggered by him was shown as a rise of the working people against social injustice and a manifestation of a class struggle, whereby the political context of the events depicted in the film is nearly entirely omitted.
One of the first Polish films made in color, which allowed to present the picturesque scenery and Polish mountains in all their splendor.
The story of a rebellion against the Polish landed gentry, led by Aleksander Kostka-Napierski.
Half of the 17th century. The Khmelnytsky Uprising in Ukraine is in progress, but in Podhale the peasants live in fear and misery, oppressed by local magnates. Every form of resistance is brutally suppressed. The progressive nobleman Kostka-Napierski opposes the brutality of the local authorities. Together with the teacher Radocki, a self-proclaimed defender of the oppressed, he encourages the peasants to rise and himself leads the rebellion. After the first successes and take-over of the castle in Czorsztyn, Napierski tries to create the common people’s movement. His bold plans are crashed by the Bishop of Cracow who unites the local noblemen and organizes a counterattack. Pressed by the overwhelming forces, the uprising falls down, while Napierski and his closest companions are sentenced to death.
