The story, which was written by Henryk Sienkiewicz in the 19th century "for the strengthening of hearts," filmed in 1999 with extraordinary panache, has become one of the most spectacular Polish films. Its plot is set during the Khmelnytsky uprising in Ukraine. Against the background of historical and political turmoil, noble friendships and great love are born between the characters.

The movie consists of two satirical novels based on the same idea: both the "gangsters" and "philanthropists" end up in the courtroom.

A famous surgeon is beaten by drunken bullies, loses his memory and cannot recollect who he was before. He gets to a village, lives in a not so well to do family and becomes the Quack - he slowly regains his talent for medicine and saves the lives of several village patients.