Krystyna Ciechomska

The story of the residents of a tenement house on Złota Street in Warsaw from 1945 to 1980.

Nikodem Dyzma immigrates from the eastern part of Poland to the capital in the hope for possibilities to make a living. He is in need, very poor and forced to look for basic food and shelter. Yet, on a day when an unexpected invitation appears, his life changes dramatically.

A young peasant girl, Antonina, emigrates for bread to Canada. She stays with her uncle, who offers her marriage, but Antonina does not accept the offer. She marries a farmer from a nearby village, surreptitiously puts away pennies to pennies and sends to Poland, her son to build a house. When her husband finds out, he catcalls her in a rage and throws her out. She returns to the country, and what does she find?

On August 1, 1944, Warsaw holds its breath as Home Army couriers spread word that “W-hour” is at 17:00. A platoon under “Czarny” must assault German barracks without the expected backup—an order they follow at the risk of collective suicide.

Nikodem Dyzma is a poor dancer who comes to Warsaw to find a job. The problem is that nobody wants to hire him. One day he finds an invitation to the party with very important people and decides to attend. A small accident at the party makes him the hero of the night and becomes the beginning of his career.

Jerzy and Zofia are offered a job in Africa. A married couple is faced with the dilemma of leaving or taking care of the man's mother and her sister.

A movie director finds himself in a mid-life crisis

Basia and her aunt live in peace far away from war efforts. One day that peace is shattered when a concentration camp prisoner, a communist activist seeks refuge in their house.