An expensively produced film about five years in the life of the most famous Polish composer. It was made as part of the celebrations of the 100th anniversary of the birth of Fryderyk Chopin.
The film was written and directed by Aleksander Ford, an interwar avant-garde filmmaker who after the war became the omnipotent "red tsar" of Polish culture; he directed "Knights of the Teutonic Order", Poland's all-time best-selling film. Ford's script was in fact a compilation of short stories written by Jerzy Broszkiewicz, Gustaw Bachner, Jan Korngold and Stanisław Hadyna. Hadyna's short story won an award in the international competition for a film project about Chopin.
The makers of the film made sure that the musical score was of sufficiently high quality. Chopin's pieces were played by famous pianist Halina Czerny-Stefańska, winner of the first post-war Chopin Competition. Paganini's pieces were performed by Wanda Wiłkomirska, while Aleksandra Śląska was dubbed by exceptional soprano singer Stefania Woytowicz.
A film account of Fryderk Chopin's life between 1825 and 1830.
A young Fryderyk Chopin attends the Warsaw music school of professor Elsner. He is a part of the romantic, progressive youth circle that wants to take active part in the fight for Poland's future. Influenced by various experiences, Chopin's talent continues to develop. The young man starts frequenting aristocratic salons and playing concerts, which meet with an enthusiastic reception from both connoisseurs and simple folk. He also falls in love for the first time after meeting beautiful singer Konstancja Gładkowska. After leaving Poland, the composer begins to experience health problems. A serious illness makes it impossible for him to return to his home country and take part in the November Uprising. Haunted by remorse and concern about his friends, the artist decides to fight for his beloved motherland not on the battlefield, but with his music.
