Set at the turn of the century, the story concerns a Polish poet living in Cracow who has decided to marry a peasant girl. The wedding is attended by a heterogenous group of people from all strata of Polish society, who dance, get drunk …

被囚三年后刑满出狱的政治犯安德，一心只想过安稳平静的生活。他在建筑界找到工作，又与心仪的女孩结婚。正当一切顺利之际，麻烦却接踵而来。工地里的同僚因工资纠纷发动罢工，而安德与老板却份属老友，但在当时的社会制度下，骑墙是不可能的事，安德想面面俱圆，却换来两面不讨好。