此片是波兰导演皮奥特尔·舒尔金八十年代科幻三部曲的第三章，也是最后一章，三部分在情节上没有直接关联，但在主题上具有相关性。一本世界遭受核战争的科幻小说，一部荒凉的后启示录。287138号囚犯接到一个极其重要的任务，在空间监狱船里穿梭，降落到一个无人居住的星球，其居民视他为“英雄”和“贵族”，但英雄主义和英勇行为有代价：他必须犯下一个罪行，然后在一个光荣的仪式上被公开处决。这个新世界的囚犯所遭遇的一切，其实是对我们现实世界的戏仿和夸张：美化暴力、痴迷媒体、官僚主义等。

The violence and high drama of this film is taken directly from recent Polish history. On December 13, 1981 national security forces swoop down on unsuspecting workers of the Wujek mine and arrest a Solidarity leader. Pushed to the limits, the miners call a massive strike, which is specifically forbidden under the martial law. A battle between the heavily armed police and the outnumbered miners ensues, and nine miners are killed.

Ewa is a young ambitious engineer who starts to work for the team of an acclaimed architect Jerzy. Gradually she becomes aware of the bizarre relations he has with his wife and lovers.

1989年，前苏联对东欧的控制将近结束，这部影片讲述的是马力克的故事。他被两名警察暴打，丢在城市垃圾堆里等死。脑外科手术救了他一命，但也导致他完全的失忆。马力克在街头漫游，寻找藏身之所，也希望有人能给予答案。他在一个古怪的女子那里找到安身之地，还恢复了记忆。同时。他的敌人在追踪着他，害怕他会作出不利于他们的证明……