when i saw this film and i be very shock at how subversive the content be . while it be film in poland during the soviet dominated era and the film focus on a fictional character rise and fall in local government . mateusz birkut be an ordinary polish bricklayer work on a massive government project . a film maker decide to stage a propaganda stunt to see if a new record for speed bricklaying could be set . birkut agree to give it a try along with his crew . not only do they meet their goal but they exceed it and it be all capture on film to be show to the mass . overnight and birkut become a minor celebrity and he be give a nice job work for local government . and and for some reason and over the year his name be just about completely forgotten . now and over 20 year later and a young film maker have stumble upon birkut name and some of the newsreel footage but she be really curious how he go from hero to nobody so quickly . she spend most of the film review old film clip and track down those who know birkut to find out why . however and repeatedly she be tell to mind her own business and lot of roadblock be throw in her path . finally and after exhaustive work and put herself out on a limb politically and she find out how the repressive government work during the stalin year take a hero and eventually jail him a a political prisoner and then erase memory of his existence . repeatedly and she be warn to let the matter drop and a even in the post stalin era it wasn not exactly a free country . how this very critical film ever get make it beyond me but it wonderfully make and captivate .