Barbara Baryżewska

A Polish Resistance fighter who survived the Nazi years cannot accept the new Communist power.

This harrowing tale of survival centers on Rose, a Masurian woman, whose German soldier husband was killed in the war, leaving her alone on their farm. A single woman had no defense against Russian soldiers who raped as a form of revenge, nor against plundering Poles who found themselves in desperate straits. Help arrives for Rose in the form of Tadeusz, a former officer in the Polish Home Army who deserted after he saw his wife raped and murdered by Russian troops and is attempting to hide his identity.

Alex is a young boy who grew up without the warmth of a family home. He is lonely and lacks money. He is in love with his college friend, Maja, without reciprocity. However, the girl decided to get involved with a wealthy man from the criminal world. Meanwhile, as part of his student internship, Alex takes care of a former employee of the Security Office, Franciszek Kozar. The elderly and sick man suffers greatly. His only desire is euthanasia. For some time, Kozar has been persuading his guardian to help him commit suicide for a few thousand dollars. Finally, Alex agrees. His financial situation improves significantly. With the money he earns, he rents a luxury apartment and changes his lifestyle. From then on, he decides to provide services to people who want to end their lives but are unable to do it themselves...

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