In this gripping WWII drama concerned with the tragic story of a man whose only chance for survival is in accepting the rules of a loaded game, concentration camp commander Kraft (Manfred Krug) finds out that would-be escapee Komínek (Štefan Kvietik) is a former professional boxer. Overnight, the prisoner is made Kraft’s sparring partner and rises to a privileged position at the camp. His already deeply ambivalent feelings about his situation change following the death of a friend, and his anger leads to open revolt.

This first collaboration between screenwriter Tibor Vichta and director Peter Solan is adapted from a short story by Polish novelist Józef Hen and shot on location at the site of a former Jewish labour camp near the Slovak town of Nováky.

Digitally restored by the Slovak Film Institute.