| Director | Andrzej Wajda |
|---|
It is 25 September 1944, during the last days of the Warsaw Uprising. The film's narration voice tells the viewers to watch closely its characters for these are the final hours of their lives.
Lieutenant 'Zadra' leads a group of 43 AK soldiers and civilians to a new position amidst the ruins of the now-isolated Mokotów district of Warsaw. The composer Michał manages to telephone his wife and child in another part of the city that is being overrun by the Germans. Before the line goes dead, she tells him that the Germans are clearing the building and that they are coming for her.
The next morning, Warrant Officer 'Korab' finds the-second-in-command, Lieutenant 'Mądry', and messenger girl Halinka in bed together (Halinka later reveals that 'Mądry' is her first lover). A German assault is stopped, but 'Korab' is wounded while disabling a Goliath tracked mine.
Surrounded by the enemy, 'Zadra' is ordered to retreat through the sewers to the Downtown. Now down to 27 fit to travel, including 'Korab', they slog through the filth in the darkness among rotting corpses and constant threat of German attacks from the above.
'Stokrotka', their guide, asks 'Zadra' to let her help 'Korab', claiming that the others can find their way easily enough; 'Zadra' consents. However, the pair fall further and further behind. When they reach the designated exit at Wilcza Street, 'Korab' is too weak to climb the upward sloping tunnel, so she decides that they should head in the direction of the river, and drives him on, not letting him stop. Finally, they see sunlight. By this time, 'Korab' is half blind and at the end of his strength. He cannot see that the exit is closed off by metal bars and they are trapped. 'Stokrotka' finally reveals her feelings for him, kissing him before telling him that he can rest now.
The main group follows 'Zadra' for a while, but they become lost without 'Stokrotka'. Finally, when 'Zadra' tells Sergeant 'Kula' to order them onward after a brief rest, they remain where they are. 'Kula' lies and tells 'Zadra' they are following in order to get him to keep going. Eventually, the only remaining soldier following 'Zadar' and 'Kula' is the mechanic 'Smukły'.
Meanwhile, 'Mądry', Halinka and Michał are also lost in the underground labyrinth. Eventually, Michał loses his mind and wanders away, playing an ocarina. Upon reaching a dead end, 'Mądry' cries out that he has somebody to live for. When Halinka asks who, he tells her that he has a wife and child. She asks him to turn off his flashlight, and then shoots herself. 'Mądry' finds an exit that is not blocked, but as soon as he has climbed out of the sewer he is disarmed by a German soldier and placed into the courtyard along with others who have come through the same manhole. Despondent, he kneels beside the bodies of others who have already been executed.
'Zadra', 'Kula' and 'Smukły' also miss the designated exit but find another - however, it is booby trapped. 'Smukły' manages to disarm two grenades but is killed by the third trap. The two survivors emerge exhausted from the sewer to find themselves in a deserted part of the ruined city. When 'Zadra' tells 'Kula' to bring up the rest of the men, 'Kula' admits he lied and that they have left them behind a long time ago. The enraged 'Zadra' shoots 'Kula' dead and, in a daze, heads back down into the sewer.