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Late 19th century. Łódź, the center of the nascent Polish textile industry. Three friends: a Pole, Karol Borowiecki, a German, Maks Baum and a Jew, Moryc Welt, want to set up a textile factory in Łódź. They use various tricks enforced by the ruthless Lodz cotton tycoons. After a fire in a newly built spinning mill, their paths diverge. Karol betrays noble ideals, breaks off his engagement with Anka, and by marrying Mada Müeller, the daughter of Müller's largest manufacturer, takes possession of the most powerful capital of Łódź. A film adaptation of Władysław Reymont's novel, which is an epic depiction of the conflicts in capitalist Łódź at the end of the 19th century.

Awards:

• 1975 - IFF in Chicago - Grand Prix "Golden Hugo"
• 1975 - Polish Feature Film Festival in Gdynia - Grand Prix (Grand Prize of the Jury "Golden Lions")
• 1975 - Polish Feature Film Festival in Gdynia - Award for the leading male role (Wojciech Pszoniak)
• 1975 - Polish Feature Film Festival in Gdynia - Award for scenography (Tadeusz Kosarewicz)
• 1975 - Polish Film Festival in Gdynia - Award for music (Wojciech Kilar)
• 1975 - International Film Forum "Man-Work-Creativity", Lublin - audience award
• 1975 - Lubuskie Film Summer, Łagów - Grand Prix "Golden Grape"
• 1975 - Lubuskie Film Summer, Łagów - Award of the Coordinating Artistic Council of Studio Cinemas
• 1975 - Moscow International Film Festival - Gold Medal
• 1975 - Syrenka Warszawska (award of the Film Critics Club of the SDP) - in the feature film category awarded during the 7th Lubuskie Film Summer in Łagów
• 1975 - Award of the Minister of Culture and Art, 1st degree (Andrzej Wajda)
• 1976 - IFF in Brussels - 2nd prize of journalists
• 1976 - IFF "FEST", Belgrade - award for scenography (Tadeusz Kosarewicz)
• 1976 - "Oscar®" Award of the American Academy of Film Arts - nomination in the category: Best Foreign Language Film
• 1977 - Review of Social and Political Films, Lodz - Main Award
• 1977 - IFF in Cartagena - 1st prize
• 1977 - IFF in Cartagena - award for director (Andrzej Wajda)
• 1977 - IFF in Valladolid - Grand Prize "Golden Kłos"
• 1978 - International Neorealist Film Festival, Avellino - 1st Prize "Golden Laceno"
• 2007 - Golden Duck (awarded by the "Film" magazine) - "Golden Duck" of the 50th anniversary in the category: Best Film