Zelazna reka (The Iron Hand) (1989)
Director: Ryszard Ber.
Starring: Jerzy Kryszak (Szymon Mroczek), Krzysztof Jasinski (Samuel Zborowski), Krzysztof Kolberger (Reinhold Heidenstein), Wojciech Alaborski (Andrzej Zborowski), Marcin Tronski (Jan Zamoyski), Zdzislaw Wardejn (Emerlich Sonntag), Jerzy Gralek (Stefan Batory), Jerzy Rogalski (Wojtaszek), Grazyna Wolszczak (Agata), Zdzislawa Specht (Julietta), Józef Fryzlewicz (Goslawski), Maciej Góraj (Zachalaszka), Henryk Bista (Cabas), Juliusz Lubicz-Lisowski (Jakub Uchanski), Jan Kulczycki (Burduk).
16th century Batory-era Poland (Stefan Batory, ruler 1576-1586; of the noble Hungarian Báthory family; one of the greatest elected Kings of Poland)
Spoiler warning: below is a summary of the entire film.
Szymon Mroczek, right hand man of the Prince of Transylvania, Stefan Batory, searches on the now silent battlefield for Samuel Zborowski. He finally finds Samuel, who has a head wound, but is still alive.
Transylvania, 1575. Batory is coming so the people straighten their body posture. Batory says to Captain Mroczek that he will be going to Poland. He says: "Now that I have humiliated the Habsburgs at Maros, I know I have more and more followers". And one of the most faithful group of supporters are the Zborowski family, even though Krzysztof Zborowski is in Vienna at this time. Captain Mroczek says that Samuel Zborowski will provide Batory with favors. Batory tells the Captain to pass this letter to Andrzej Zborowski because he's increasingly popular.
Batory has a girlfriend. She is upset because the plan for Batory is to have him marry Anna of the Jagiello family. The girlfriend tells Batory that this is the price of the crown that Batory desires so much to have. Then she tells him not to leave her. Batory's ultimate goal is to be the King of Poland.
Later Cubas and Mroczek come to check on Batory and find him sleeping. They start to leave when Batory starts laughing loudly that he fooled them. They have some wine together.
The Captain and Samuel talk together about Batory becoming popular in Poland. People say he will be king one day. Samuel says Batory is already the king. He adds that he wants to go back to Poland, but he can't go back because he killed a man in the presence of the king and was outlawed by Valois. Samuel thinks it's not fair because he was only defending his honor against an insult. Now the big man hopes that Batory will free him from his punishment of exile. The two men have a toast: Long live Stephan Batory, Prince of Transylvania! The Captain tells Samuel that Batory is sending him to Poland. Samuel tells Mroczek to tell his brothers that he will be back in Poland soon.
On his trip the Captain sees a woman about to be burned as a witch. He rides up to her and cuts her ropes. She jumps off the platform she was on. The woman then jumps on the back of the Captain's horse. As he rides away a clergyman yells at him: "I curse you."
Later the woman accused of witchcraft take a bath. The Captain comes in and just continues to stare at her. She covers herself but then just lets the material fall from her body. (brief nudity) The Captain takes off his clothes. He kisses her, but she abruptly jerks her head to one side cutting his lip. He puts her on the floor and gets on top of her, but she gives him a nasty scratch on his back with her nails. He giver her a back-hand slap across her face. Then he begins having sex with her. (Not shown.)
The Captain goes to see the Marshal Andrzej Zborowski. An assistant says that the Marshal is very busy. Right now he is with an important man, namely Zamoyski. The Marshal says that if Zamoyski will lead the gentry and the Zborowski family lends it power and name, the future will be theirs. Zamoyoski says he will not put up with Batory as a candidate. First they have to propose a Piast and then turn to Batory. He in turn will marry Anna Jagiello. The Primate has decided that Maximilian will be king. This has upset the gentry and they choose Anna to marry Batory.
Andrzej Zborowski sees Captain Mroczek and asks him what is he doing here? They go in to talk. He asks the Captain how is his brother Samuel doing?
Outside a man yells out to the people gathered before him that Anna will marry Batory, the Prince of Transylvania, conqueror of the Habsburgs and the victor at Maros. The Captain roams around listening to conversations. He hears some men talking about cooking the goose of Batory.
The Primate comes out of the church to sit before a crowd of people. He tells the people that he supports Maximilian Habsburg to be king. All of a sudden someone fires a shot at the Primate, but misses the Primate, and, instead, hits another clergyman in the arm. Captain Mroczek captures the would-be assassin, but a young man named Reinhold Heidenstein, Zamoyoski's secretary, wants to interrogate the captive. The two men decide to interrogate the man together. The fellow says his names is Burduk and he is from Silesia. The Captain wants to know who sent him? Burduk says it was Zamoyski and Heidenstein. For this impertinence, the Captain burns the man with a lit torch. He has to use the torch again and the captive says the name they want is Sonntag, a German. He's at Berg's Inn.
Before going to the inn, the Captain and Heidenstein go see Zamoyoski. Zamoyoski wants to know who sent the Captain here? The Captain says it was Batory himself. The man says that there are many who oppose Batory, especially the nobles who don't want to give up any of their privileges. Zamoyoski asks the Captain how is Batory, but the Captain only says that he hopes Batory as king will lift the banishment of Samuel.
Now Mroczek and Heidenstein go see Sonntag (a merchant). Heidenstein goes in alone at first and the Captain listens in from outside the door. Heidenstein accuses Sonntag of trying to involve him in this assassination mess. Sonntag says that Heidenstein is a German like him and he should know that this is their duty. Sonntag then says; "I don't know any Burduk." The Captain comes in saying: "Maximilian wouldn't be happy if his agent was beheaded." Sonntag says there are two elected kings in Poland. The Captain contradicts him by saying the nobility elected only one man.
The Captain and Heidenstein now take Sonntag to see Burduk. The man, however, is dead. The Captain tells Heidenstein that he can see he is scared, but Heidenstein needn't be upset at the situation.
The Captain goes to see the Marshal, Andrzej Zborowski. He says he is going back to Transylvania and wonders if Andrzej has any news for Batory? The Marshal says he will give Mroczek a letter for Batory. Mroczek and Heidenstein make the trip to Transylvania. When they arrive the Captain says they will first go in to see the Prince. Mrocek says to the Prince that Poland is waiting for their king. This makes Batory very happy.
The staff helps get the Prince dressed. His girlfriend is with him and she asks if the Prince really has to marry this Anna? The answer is yes. The girl then says she will go with the Prince, because he wants to be with her.
Jan Zborowski wants to be Hetman (head man), while Andrzej his brother wants to be the Chancellor. The Prince says they all want the high offices in order to tie his hands. The Captain says that what he wants is the pardoning of Samuel. The Prince says: "If I do that, I'd be breaking the law." The Captain is disappointed. He changes the subject by saying the nobility is ruining Poland. Mroczek then says that he will work very quietly behind the scenes for ways to support the king. He adds that the king must not be associated with him (Mroczek) or any of his deeds.
The Prince has a big feast. Samuel gets on his knees to ask the Prince to let him go back to Poland. The answer is no. Samuel leaves.
The Captain goes to check on Samuel. He sees him with three prostitutes (some nudity). The accused witch comes in to serve wine, but is shocked when she sees the prostitutes all over Mroczek. And she doesn't like what she sees. Samuel tells Mroczek that he is going to go back to Poland and no one will touch him.
The now King calls for Mroczek. He tells him that there is going to be a great war. The Russian Tsar has just invaded Livonia. And the Sultan complains about Cossack attacks. Furthermore, Ivan Podkova is stirring up unrest there. He must be captured. And then there's Samuel . He has returned to Poland. He is staying in the Ukraine. The King say Samuel can join the army and fight the Russians.
Mroczek and his men capture Ivan Podkova. He is about to be beheaded. Samuel with his men comes to save Ivan. The Captains yells at Samuel not to do that. He then gives the order for the beheading to happen right now and it is done. A saddened Samuel takes off on his horse. The Captain chases after him. He catches up with him and then Samuel starts hitting Mroczek. After awhile they both get exhausted and stop fighting. Samuel says to the Captain: "I loved you." The Captain replies that he is only carrying out the orders of Batory. Samuel's men arrive and Samuel tells them to go get his musician Wojtaszek, who seems to have run away.
Samuel's men find the musician and bring him back. Samuel immediately puts him to work strumming on a guitar like instrument. The guys have a little feast. Samuel jumps on the table and starts dancing. He then jumps off the table, but keeps dancing. He dances with a woman for awhile. Mroczek gets up on the table and starts dancing. Samuel jumps back on the table and starts dancing with Mroczek. They both jump down off the table, but dance some more. All of a sudden, Samuel starts lashing the musician. Mroczek stops him. The men then give a toast to Ivan Podkova. Mroczek drinks a bit with them.
Wojtaszek tells the Captain that he wants to go with him. The Captain throws the man a bag of coins and tells him to go back to Samuel.
The woman with Mroczek is naked with him and she is thinking over and over again that she wants to go with The Captain. All of a sudden, the Captain says he can't take her because Batory forbids taking women to war. Instead, she will wait here for him.
Samuel attacks a Russian encampment. He finds a German merchant with the Russians. He notices that the man has a Zborowski family ring on one of his fingers.
The Captain speaks to a leader named Serny. Here's a good question for Mroczek. How come Zamoyoski got all the positions that the Zborowski family wanted? Suddenly the Captain cuts a hole in the tent and pulls a man inside. The fellow is the musician Wojtaszek. He tells the Captain that Samuel attacked a Russian camp. There he found the German merchant and he set him free.
The Captain meets up with Sonntag again. He asks the merchant: "What is the Habsburg's agent doing so far from Vienna?" He knocks the man's soup bowl out of his hands. He then asks Sonntag who killed Burduk. Sonntag says: "Not me!" The Captain searches Sonntag and finds a letter on him from Riazanov to Krzysztof. Mroczek sees Sonntag wearing the ring of Krzysztof on his hand. The Captain now demands from Sonntag that he tell him the plans of Krzysztof. The German merchant says that the man is informing the Tsar about Batory's plans. And, yes, Samuel knows all about Krzysztof and that's why Samuel let Sonntag go.
The Captain tells the King about the information he obtained from Sonntag. The King says that this means betrayal.
The Captain confronts Samuel. Samuel gives his word of honor that he did not know about the merchant being an agent for the Tsar. Mroczek says: "I believe you."
The Captain returns to asks Sonntag why does he lie? He then tells his men to take Sonntag out and hang him.
The supposed witch drips some of her blood into a drink of red wine. She believes that this will make the Captain hers. The woman then gives it to Mroczek. The Captain, however, is thinking about the latest news. The war is over and the King still will not pardon Samuel. He says that Samuel will nevertheless come back. He then knocks the wine glass out of the witch's hand.
There is dancing for the king at the dinner table. Krzysztof arrives and says he wants to see Samoyoski. The Captain watches the man intently. With Krzysztof is his brother Andrzej, who says that Samuel is hiding out in the Ukraine. His brother says the whole of the Ukraine will follow Samuel. He for certain will oppose the tyranny of the Chancellor and the King.
Sonntag is still alive. The captain's men rough him up and cut him. The Captain says he will set the man free, if he tells him what is the plot of the Zborowski family. Sonntag says Andrzej, Krzysztof and Samuel are all in on the plot. The Captain tells him: "You lie!" Sonntag says it was Samuel's idea to shoot Batory like a wolf when he was out hunting. The Captain becomes so infuriated that he drives a knife into the gut of the merchant. He then moans over Samuel's betrayal. Wojtaszek tells the Captain that Samuel is in Zamoyoski's domain in Piekary.
Mroczek rides to see Samuel, who is having dinner with his men. When he see Mroczek, Samuel dismisses his men. The Captain tells his friend: "I beg you. Run away." Samuel just asks him: "Are you crazy?" Mroczek leaves. On his way back he runs into the Hetman. The Captain tells him that Samuel Zborowski is in his territory. The Hetman gives the Captain four of his men and he tells the Captain to go and seize Samuel.
The Captain and the men go to seize Samuel. The women hide Samuel, so the searchers can't find him. Mroczek grabs Samuel's son and makes him cry out for his father by pulling his hair. Samuel comes out and the Captain lets the boy go. Samuel says: "So, you had the courage."
The Captain wakes with the accused witch by his side. She reproaches him for betraying Samuel. Mroczek hugs her. She takes off her rope and they make love. (Brief nudity.)
The King tells the Chancellor to act for once. Go get Krzysztof and Samuel.
The Captain comes to the prison to see Samuel. He tells Samuel that he will be beheaded. The Captain then begs the man to plead guilty whether he is guilty or innocent. Do it for Poland! It will be a lesson to any potential assassins in the area. Samuel just says: "You must be crazy. It will never happen."
The next day the Captain goes to see Samuel beheaded. The condemned man tells the Captain to come closer. He gives Mroczek his blue handkerchief and asks the Captain to dip the handkerchief in his blood and give it to his son. The sentence is carried out on Samuel. Off goes his head.
Samoyoski and his crew try to kill the Captain, who they say is the murderer of Samuel. But Mroczek manages to kill a number of the assassins, which discourages the others. He then leaves.
Wojtaszek comes to talk with the Captain. The Captain asks him how does he know so much about what is going on in Krakow and elsewhere? Wojtaszek says he gets so much information from men like the Captain who act very loyally during the day, but at night they are filled with betrayal.. He says the Zborowskis wanted Zamoyoski to slip up and kill Samuel Zborowski. Wojtaszek says he hates all these men: these murderers! For this the Captain gives the musician a very bad beating.
Batory is dead and the people wait for a new king. Reform is urgently need in Poland. There is talk of making Samoyoski the next king. After all, Batory gave him Grizelda for his wife. And the man has regiments on call. The Captain says that Zamoyoski also has men such as Zolkiewski, Serny, Urowiecki and him (Mroczek) to come to his assistance. In short, he has power that no one can oppose. Zamoyoski tells the Captain that that's enough! "I am not going to be king."
The Captain doles out assignments from his plan of attack to the various leaders. The first assignment is to arrest the men he has on his list. Other leaders will guard the different key structures, like the castle. The Captain himself will attack the Zboroski family. Some of the leaders argue with Mroczek. They say that the Hetman is giving up the crown and he wants no bloodshed. The Captain just says that civil war in unavoidable. At least, Poland will be changed. The accused witch tells the Captain that he will win, but he will fill the dungeons with men and will kill, kill, kill.
The Captain goes to lead his troops in an attack on the Zborowskis. He is about to give the signal to attack when he notices that there is no enthusiasm to attack the Zborowskis. A messenger tells the Captain that the Chancellor wants to see him.
The Captain reports to the Chancellor. The Chanellor is not alone. There are many men there to sit in judgment of the Captain, who is accused of plotting a rebellion. With disgust, the Captain tells the Chancellor: "I thought you were different." The Chancellor tells the Captain that he is dismissed and free to go. Mroczek takes off his sword and belt and puts these items on the table in front of his judges. He now leaves. The Captain says to himself: "I'll be back."
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