Colonel Kwiatkowski

The film tells the story of a young military doctor, Kwiatkowski, who, after successfully operating on a UB colonel, is rewarded with a week’s leave. Together with a friend, he sets off for Warsaw, where, amidst the ruins of his pre-war home, he meets Krysia, a former neighbor, and immediately falls in love with her. He decides to invite her to a ball at the surviving Polonia hotel, where, following a confrontation with a Russian officer, he pretends to be a high-ranking UB colonel in order to save himself. His deception is so convincing that both Russian and Polish officers, as well as the mother of a young Home Army soldier arrested by the UB, fall for it. Kwiatkowski decides to continue the charade to impress Krysia and win her heart. With the help of his friend and acquaintances, he procures cars and weapons and, posing as an inspector from the Ministry of Public Security, frees the Home Army soldier along with many other political prisoners. Additionally, he thwarts plans by the Soviet Army to export Polish artworks. The film combines elements of comedy, suspense, and drama, illustrating the absurdity of post-war reality in Poland. The director uses the motif of deception to offer a critical view of attitudes toward authority and the complex relationship between the individual and the totalitarian system.