| Director | Krzysztof Kieślowski |
|---|
The ghost of Antek Zyro, an attorney, breaks the fourth wall, explaining he suffered a heart attack while driving and was killed in a car accident. He leaves behind his wife, Urszula (nicknamed "Ula"), and his son Jacek. A month later, Ula receives a phone call from Joanna Stach, the wife of her husband's last client, Darek Stach. She requests the legal documents relating to her husband's case. Ula is at first unwilling to help, but then allows Joanna to peruse them. Joanna reminds Ula of Mieczyslaw Labrador, an older lawyer Antek had clerked for.
Later that afternoon, Ula rummages through her husband's files, and discovers nude photographs of herself with her face scissored out. She meets with Tomek, a friend of Antek's who explain the photographs. Inside Antek's files, they find a small handwritten note, in which Darek requested Antek's legal representation after he is arrested for organizing for the Solidarity movement. Labrador meets with Darek in his prison cell, in which they discuss the reasons behind his imprisonment. Labrador agrees to take his case, hoping to present Darek as an activist who believes the Polish government needed political reform. However, Darek states he will start a hunger strike. At a Christmas party, Ula meets with Marta Duraj, who had known Antek fifteen years earlier when they were law students.
At a local bar, Ula meets a young English man. They share a drink and he offers her $50 for sex. At first she scoffs at the idea but then agrees. Back at Joanna's apartment, both women learn about a new trade union, with Derek's fellow dissidents involved. Struggling to cope with Antek's death, Ula meets with a hypnotist, who hypnotizes her so she will forget her husband. However, during the session, Ula sees the ghost of her husband. Back at her apartment, Ula comforts Jacek who had a nightmare about his parents.
Labrador revisits with Darek in his prison cell, in which he arranges to have members of the union testify in his defense. From Labrador's perspective, the union can defend Darek, stating that he is no threat to the Polish government, and Darek will have his prison sentence reduced. However, Darek vows to remain imprisoned so he can continue his hunger strike. Labrador sends his apprentice lawyer to advise Darek of his legal options, and convinces Darek to end his hunger strike. Meanwhile, Ula revisits her psychiatrist and attends a candlelight burning at her husband's gravesite. She drops Jacek off at her mother-in-law's residence.
At a trial hearing, the judge suspends Darek's jail sentence. After the court adjourns, Labrador announces his retirement. Ula returns to her apartment, turns on the gas oven, and sits in front of it with tape over her mouth. She dies, and is reunited with her husband. Both dressed in black, they walk side by side on a lawn.