Director: Andrzej Wajda
1999
The film’s action takes place in 1811 at the Soplica family manor in Soplicowo, Lithuania. After completing his studies, young Tadeusz Soplica returns to his family home, where his guardian and the estate’s master is his uncle, the Judge. While exploring the old corners of the manor, he comes upon his childhood room, where he meets Zosia, a young and beautiful girl who awakens feelings and desire in him. In the evening, during dinner at the Castle—an object of dispute between the Soplica and Horeszko families—Tadeusz meets the seductive Telimena, with whom he soon begins a romance. However, the true resident of his room turns out to be Zosia, whose guardian is Telimena. Tadeusz does not know that Father Robak, known for his patriotic actions, is actually his father—Jacek Soplica, once a hot-headed nobleman who shot Stolnik Horeszko and then entered the monastery, hiding his identity. The steward Gerwazy takes revenge for the old crime. At the same time, Father Robak is preparing an uprising in Lithuania to support France’s attack on Russia, conducting his conspiratorial activities in secret from everyone. He reveals the truth only on his deathbed.