A story about the fate of post-war Polish villages. Szymon Pietruszka's life is dominated by Michał, his older brother, who left for the city before the war. There, he became involved in the leftist movement. He returned to his home village after the war in a dignitary's car. Soon, however, he left again, only to reappear a few years later—this time penniless, mired in apathy, betrayed by his ideals. The only person who guesses Michał's secret is Szymon, who is also unable to break down the wall separating him from his brother.
Janusz Michałowski
as Michał Pietruszka, brat Szymona
Bożena Adamek
as Mother of Szymon and Michal
Paweł Gędłek
as Young Michal Pietruszka
Ignacy Machowski
as Ksiądz proboszcz
Stefan Popkowski
as Szymon Pietruszka w młodości
Jerzy Radziwiłowicz
as Szymon Pietruszka
Paweł Nowisz
as Krawiec, kuzyn Pietruszków
Ryszard Chlebuś
as Franek
Włodzimierz Musiał
as Izydor
Adam Ferency
as Ojciec Szymona i Michała
Bronisław Pawlik
as Bartłomiej Kuś
Szymon Bobrowski
as Rysiek
