The original, uncut version as shown back in 1988. The full cut disappeared at the same time Socialist Poland did, all the copies known were destroyed, and all the home video versions were heavily edited leaving problematic political stuff (clocking around 1 hour of video!) out. Polish Film Institute claimed to have been looking for the full cut, but yet they issued a remastered 122-minute long American cut for the 30th anniversary edition.
But luckily the movie was shown on TV in Chechoslovakia in late 80's-early 90's, and some person taped it on a used VHS cassette. Then a collector from Russia bought and ripped it in mid-2000's, and finally he traded it to me for some other rare stuff allowing to share it here.
The video quality is beyond bad indeed, but it seems that we won't be able to have a better copy of it in a foreseeable future.
THE PLOT
Based upon the novel by the director, Alexander Ramati, this film follows Dymitra a Polish gypsy violinist, as he leads his family and friends in a desperate bid for freedom. Eventual capture leads them to Auschwitz where they face an inevitable end.
Written by mahajanssen
