A renowned surgeon loses his memory after a violent assault and ends up in a remote village, where he’s taken in by a poor family and begins a new life under the name Antoni Kosiba. Though unaware of his true identity, his natural gift for healing slowly returns, and he becomes known as the village quack, saving lives with skill that defies explanation. As his reputation grows, pieces of his past begin to surface, leading to a dramatic and emotional rediscovery of who he truly is.
The film is based on the classic 1937 novel by Tadeusz Dołęga‑Mostowicz, and this 1982 version marks the second major screen adaptation, following an earlier 1937 film directed by Michał Waszyński.
It was shot on location in various authentic Polish settings, including Bielsk Podlaski, the Radziejowice Palace, the Skolimów watermill, Piekary (Piątek commune), and Łódź—giving the story a vivid and atmospheric backdrop.
A particularly striking detail: the character Wasylko’s crippled legs were played by a real person with that condition, not actor Artur Barciś—a decision that adds a layer of authenticity to the film’s emotional storytelling.
