Syzyfowe prace (The Labors of Sisyphus) is a Polish historical film, based on the novel of the same name by Stefan Żeromski.
[1] The story takes place in the second half of the nineteenth century in the Polish territories that were annexed by Russia.
At the junior school he has his first experiences of the Russification process of which is initially unaware but which is slowly beginning to have a severe impact on his political views and his beliefs about Polish history and culture.
Borowicz goes to detention for a fight with one of the students and for talking in Polish instead of Russian (which is the compulsory language and has to be used at school at all times).
The prefect, however, is adamant; he strongly insists on conducting the Mass in Polish and the conversation is quickly becoming so unpleasant that the priest finally loses his temper, tells Majewski that the discussion is over and unceremoniously orders the teacher to get out of the chapel and shows him to the door.