Director: Jerzy Skolimowski
1965
Andrzej Leszczyc (J. Skolimowski) is approaching his thirties. Without a diploma but having completed his military service, he ends up in a small town by chance—there he spots Teresa (A. Zawieruszanka), a woman he knows from the polytechnic. Teresa is leading a project at a local industrial plant, and Leszczyc accompanies her despite lacking formal qualifications. At the same time, he prepares to participate in an exhibition boxing tournament. Although he has experience in the ring, he faces a demanding opponent. Underlying his and Teresa’s conversations is the question of the meaning of effort: whether it is worth fighting for one’s goals or better to give in and choose the easier path. The film is Jerzy Skolimowski’s second feature-length work after “Identification Marks: None” and is also another installment in the cycle about Andrzej Leszczyc’s fate, continued later in “Barrier” and “Hands Up!”.