The rebirth of Poland after World War I. The newly organized National Assembly elected Gabriel Narutowicz, a professor returning home from Switzerland to enter public life, as the first president in the history of the Polish Republic. Shows the turmoil leading to Narutowicz's election by a National Assembly divided between Polish Nationalists and the minorities, comprising one third of the population. A few days after the election the president was assassinated by a fanatic Nationalist while opening an art exhibit.

Originally released as a motion picture in 1978. Special features: Director biography. Features: cast and director biographies, scene selection.