The film takes place in 1982.
No End (Sem Fim (1985)) was perhaps Krzysztof Kieslowski's most clearly political film, depicting political trials in Poland during martial law, from the unusual point of view of a lawyer's ghost and his widow. At the time it was harshly criticized by both the government, dissidents, and the church. Starting with No End, Kieslowski closely collaborated with two people, the composer Zbigniew Preisner and the trial lawyer Krzysztof Piesiewicz, whom Kieslowski met while researching political trials under martial law for a planned documentary on the subject. Piesiewicz co-wrote the screenplays for all of Kieslowski's subsequent films. Preisner is best known for collaborating with Kieslowski on the scores for the Three Colors trilogy.
In his discussions with Darek, Labrador mentions the date, December 13th. The Polish Government declared Martial Law on December 13th 1981 in order to stifle domestic unrest and to undercut the power of the political opposition, particularly that of the Solidarnosc (Solidarity) trade union.
No End (Polish: Sem Fim (1985)) is a Polish film directed by Krzysztof Kieslowski and starring Grazyna Szapolowska, Maria Pakulnis, and Aleksander Bardini. The film is about the state of martial law in Poland after the banning of the trade union Solidarity in 1981.
In his review in the Chicago Reader, Jonathan Rosenbaum called the film "terse, suggestive, and pungent, with juicy performances by Bardini and Szapolowska."