November 1916. Instead of studying for his finals, Eugeniusz is at the movies flirting with Ada. One day he decides to pursue his dream of acting.

Getting on stage turns out to be hard. Instead of the theater, Eugeniusz ends up in a homeless shelter in Warsaw. Luckily another actor helps him.

Eugeniusz works as an usher in a theater in Poznań. He spends all his free time watching rehearsals. Finally, he gets a chance to show off his skills.

Two years pass. Desperate, Eugeniusz performs in dingy bars in Pabianice, where the Spanish flu epidemic is raging. He decides to move to Warsaw.

After years of struggle, Bodo finally lands a gig at the theater. He also convinces Ada to go to Warsaw. Meanwhile, the Polish-Soviet War breaks out.

Bodo and Zula Pogorzelska act at the famed Qui Pro Quo theater, and the tabloids report on their alleged affair. Bodo has a hit and gets a film role.

The premiere of "Rivals" is a huge success, and Bodo becomes a star overnight. But the fame has its dark sides, and a rival enters the scene.

Bodo has more and more film roles, but mostly insignificant. Captain Magiera uses his connections to help Eugeniusz finance an ambitious production.

Bodo buries himself in work to cope with the trauma of his friend's death. He shoots the blockbuster film "Sound of the Desert" with his peers.

A beautiful Tahitian Hollywood starlet, Reri, comes to Warsaw for a guest performance. Bodo is mesmerized by her beauty and uncommon temperament.

Reri's stay in Poland becomes more and more complicated, and to top it off, Ada is coming to Warsaw. Bodo is faced with a very tough choice.

Bodo wins the hearts of the audience with the film "The Ghosts," co-starring Dymsza, but he is most happy when Ada arrives to give him her decision.

After the war breaks out, Bodo travels to Lviv with a group of Warsaw artists. The Russians already occupy the city, but Bodo is allowed to perform.