Ósmy dzien tygodnia (1958)

In Warsaw, Agnieszka, a philosophy student, lives with her parents, her alcoholic brother, and their subtenant, Zawadzki. She is in love with Piotr, a young architect who lives in a building in ruins from wartime damage. When the building is destroyed, Piotr applies for a new apartment, hoping to live there with Agnieszka. The lovers are convinced that their love is cursed because they can never be alone together in the unfriendly city. The housing office keeps postponing Piotr’s applications, frustrating him and Agnieszka even more. While taking shelter from the rain, they are accidentally locked in a department store overnight. The colorful, modern display of goods for young married couples contrasts with their gray reality and delights the tipsy lovers. In the morning, Agnieszka manages to escape, but Piotr is arrested on suspicion of theft. He gives a detailed explanation at the Citizens’ Militia station, where a sympathetic militiaman lets him go. On the militiaman’s advice, Piotr keeps fighting for a housing-allocation apartment, but Agnieszka gives up. She spends the night with a married man she happens to meet; they get drunk, and then he rapes her. The next day, a jubilant Piotr tells her that they have been granted an apartment for two people. Agnieszka pushes Piotr away. Disappointed, he throws down the apartment key and leaves. Agnieszka realizes what she has done, and when her returning brother hands her the discarded key, she runs after Piotr.