Synopsis

After a long stay in the USA, the gifted cardiac surgeon Zbigniew Religa returns to Poland in the 1980s. His one and only dream is to perform the first successful human heart transplantation in his home country. The preconditions are, unfortunately, quite far from perfect. The visionary has to deal with exhausting bureaucracy and a lot of prejudices. The narrow-minded communist government is as sceptical about the man’s intentions as the superstitious catholic public. But Religa, a chain smoker himself and not averse to the influence and taste of alcohol, proves to be persistent. He eventually manages to found a hospital where the first preparations for the surgery are made. But still, the government has nothing better to do than make up restrictions and put obstacles in Religa’s way, resulting in transplantations not proceeding as expected… Director Łukasz Palkowski accomplished a dynamic and ingenious drama about the pioneer of transplantation who still gains recognition as national hero today and who was played by the Polish acting star Tomasz Kot. A drama that captivates with wit despite all seriousness. The portrayal of this exceptional medical expert and later politician stays close to reality – in regard to his own significance as well as to the presentation of former communistic Poland.