A dramatic story of three people for whom music became an adventure of a lifetime. Young violinist Marta (Krystyna Janda), on a scholarship program in New York City, meets a famous orchestra conductor John Lasocki (John Gielgud), once her mother’s lover. As his feelings from the past are rekindled, Lasocki decides to come to Poland to conduct Beethoven’s 5th symphony for Marta’s hometown orchestra. The chief conductor of the orchestra is Marta’s husband, Adam (Andrzej Seweryn), who initially sees the maestro’s visit as an opportunity for himself, yet he fears the confrontation with an artist of such renown.

Despite being one of the more obscure films by Wajda, it is nothing short of a masterpiece, with spellbinding performances and Andrzej Kijowski’s superb screenplay.