The film shows the fate of Adam Chmielowski, an artist-painter who sacrificed himself in search of freedom and happiness. His rebellious nature and disagreement with evil make him run away from tsarist captivity, hidden in a coffin. When he becomes famous, he will not hesitate to abandon art to die for the great world and devote himself to the service of the people. His tragic fate is completed by the collapse, expulsion of the Jesuits from the Order and confinement in an institution for the mentally ill. Soon, however, he will rise like a phoenix from the ashes, and then - out of love for another human - he returns as Brother Albert - the future saint. The film story of his life is completed with the fate of his famous friends - Helena Modrzejewska and Józef Chelmonski. Rebellious nature and disagreement with evil that he escapes by a trick of tsarist captivity hidden in a coffin. When he becomes famous, he does not hesitate to abandon art to die for the top of the world and in the service of the people. His tragic fate is completed by the payment, expulsion of the Jesuits from the order and confinement in an institution for the mentally ill. Soon he will rise like a phoenix from the ashes, and then - out of love for another human - he returns as Brother Albert - the future saint. The film story of his life is complemented by stratislav friends - Helena Modrzejewska and Józef Chelmonski.