It’s 1945—World War II is coming to an end. In Świętochłowice, Silesia, the security authorities repurpose what used to be a Nazi concentration camp as a place of forced labor for Germans, Silesians and Poles. Under the guise of punishing traitors to the nation, the secret political police (UB) purges the “enemies of the communist state.” A young boy named Franek volunteers to work at the camp; his main motivation is to save Anna, the girl he’s madly in love with. He doesn’t realize that one of the other prisoners is Erwin, a German, a good friend of his from before the war who has also had a crush on Anna for years. Franek joins the communists, naively hoping to beat the system. His first few days at the camp quickly strip him of any illusions. He gradually comes to realize that to save Anna he will literally have to sacrifice everything. The strength of Maciej Sobieszanski’s debut feature starts with his choice of topic, which other directors have always shied away from. This tragic time in history makes it possible for the director to create a story of coming of age under extreme circumstances that seem to offer no way out. Young actors Julian Świeżewski, Zofia Wichłacz and Jakub Gierszał and the marvelous Ukrainian cinematographer Valentyn Vasyanovych help the director bring to life the devastating reality of the waning days of the war.