Haus der Frauen

Directed by Krzysztof Zanussi

Six women from three generations of one family live in an old villa on the outskirts of a provincial Polish town. All of them have lost their husbands; one is divorced, the others are widows. The women live on their memories, raving about the old days or looking back bitterly on a lost life. The doted center of this isolated women's world is the old grandmother, whose wise kindness determines the atmosphere of the house. Joanna Nielewicz returned to the family circle just a few months ago, after the death of her husband, who was respected by all for his particularly high moral standards. Since his death, Joanna has been tormented by a guilt that she finally confesses to her grandmother: once during her marriage, she was unfaithful to her husband. One day, the surprise visit of a young girl brings unrest to the villa. Despite the women's resistance, she manages to get through to Joanna and reveal that she is the illegitimate daughter of her late husband.