The Jump

We meet Franek and Paweł in a trendy seaside town. They have failed their final exams, run away from home, and have no real plans for the future—only vague dreams of escaping by ship to the tropics. By chance, they encounter Filip, a much older and cunning hustler who quickly realizes their hopeless situation and proposes they take part in a “job”—a robbery of the local village cooperative’s cash register. To prepare for the break-in, the boys take seasonal harvest work and integrate into the community of locals and migrant laborers. Feisty Franek, a boxer, builds his reputation with his fists, while the younger, more sensible Paweł begins to doubt the risky plan. He drops out of the heist, meets a girl, and experiences the joy—and pain—of first true love. Driven by a misplaced loyalty to Filip and a desire for a “wild adventure,” Franek decides to help carry out the robbery after all. The break-in is successful, but Filip disappears with the money, and the blame falls on the others—an innocent man is arrested by the police. The boys face a dramatic choice they cannot bear. The story’s finale is a tragic fight between Franek and Paweł on the pier in Międzyzdroje, ending with Franek’s death.