I never saw this film when it was in the Soviet Union in the 1983-84. Only this year could I get a DVD and watch it. What a pleasure! What a serious, deep, moving and touching work of ever excellent Jerzy Hoffman! The story is quite thrilling - a famous surgeon is beaten by drunken bullies, loses his memory and cannot recollect who he was before. he gets to a village, lives in a not so well to do family and becomes the Quack - he slowly regains his talent for medicine and saves the lives of several village patients. The film is warm, sweet and rich in details, the colors are impeccable and the play of the main actor just excellent. He looks so frail, although he is very strong both physically and mentally. He behaves so modestly but then he is the victor both over death and the fate. This is a bit slow, but very serious film, very thoughtful and very romantic - tears are on eyes not once or twice during the watching. Very good work - highly recommended!
