The film deals with the a clandestine Olympiade held in a German POW camp during WW II, housing many Poles, but also French and Brits. A spit and a Polish German lieutenant is added to the staff of a prison camp. He sees a Pole, the acknowledged leader of the Polish prisoners, against whom he had competed during the Berlin Olympics in 1936. He asks the Pole to train with him but is refused; the Pole points out out that he is a prisoner and nothing more. But that plants the seed and the Pole proposes and Olympics 40 to be held among the prisoners. They ingeniously make a flag and medals, set up a number of races; a croaching hop race is unwittingly organized by a German prison guard who uses it as a torture. The German lieutenant knows that something is going on but cannot find out. Finally the Germans realize the idea and the Polish chief is sent to concentration camp but the others disobey the orders.

Wajda's most underrated film ever. Made in sombre manner displays the fragment of the history of Poland when Soviets and their local adherents overtook the reign in country. Betrayal, infiltration, invigilation, deception wins. Heroes are now villains and villains are heroes. Best role of Cezary Pazura as a delirious scoundrel from UB /polish equivalent of NKWD/.

Surreal Grotesque Indeed! "In An Old Manor House" is a disturbing, erotic, chilling ghost story with twists and turns, as well as political rebellion. You may need to watch it a few times to fully understand it, but you won't mind for you'll be mesmerized by its psychological and gothic terror and perverse, sensuous love scenes. Beata Tyszkiewicz is so beautiful and hypnotic as the wicked phantom, Anastazja, you want to be seduced by her yourself! Of course some will object to bizarre horror and incestuous themes. I would recommend it to those who enjoy the fiction of Matthew Lewis, V. C. Andrews, or Anne Rice.