 At the beginning of the 20th century, there s no Poland. Russia occupies Warsaw. Herling, a fearless provocateur, is captured when a bomb he sets off kills two children. Although he s racked by guilt, he manages to escape with a young prisoner, Adam. They reach Adam s home in Austrian-occupied Zakopane. Herling is taken in by Adam s friends, Andrzej Woyda and Marta Moraczewska. Sexual as well as political tensions arise. The men compete and feed their love of danger by rock climbing. A tragic accident is followed by Herling s receiving orders to kill again. How he resolves his feelings about Andrzej and Marta, staying true to the revolution, ends the film.