This captivating Polish film was based on the most famous work of Count Jan Patocki (1761-1815), written in French (and published in France in 1813) as a series of stories to amuse his ailing wife. It concerns the quirky adventures of a young captain of the Walloon guards under the King of Spain during his travels through that country. The captain must pass several trials to prove himself in order to become a descendent of the powerful Mauretanian family. Featuring ghosts, a good deal of sensuality, and an ever-shifting narrative structure, the film found an unlikely champion in Jerry Garcia of the Grateful Dead, who mentioned the film to be among his favorites in the early 70's. It found a new group of admirers when it was revived for a handful of festival screenings in 1997.