The film made during the "Carnival of 'Solidarity'" in 1981, completed in early 1982, after the proclamation of the Marshal Law in Poland. Due to its controversial anti-communist themes, was banned by the Polish government (then under the communist rule) for nearly eight years, until it was finally released in December 1989, after the disintegration of the Soviet Bloc.
After the shooting was over, Bugajski presented the finished version of the film to the Ministry of Culture. One of his associates smuggled a dictophon to a meeting with censors and recorded the entire discussion. The film was of course banned.
The legendary film, called by the authorities "the most anti-communist film in the history of the Polish People's Republic", caused the dissolution of Andrzej Wajda's "X" group.