A young factory worker in a provincial town near Cracow becomes the joyful father of a baby girl and the proud owner of a super-8 camera with which he intends to photograph his newborn, and with which he begins to photograph everything in sight. When his factory manager proposes that he record some scenes of factory life, beginning with the upcoming anniversary celebration, his career is launched: he is given a basement room at the factory for a workshop; he takes third prize in an amateur film contest and, in short, comes to consider himself an Artist, setting out to present “life as it really is.” Life, however, turns out to be more than he had bargained for. He simultaneously loses his wife and gains a commercial and political “interest” in his films, particularly one of a dwarf co-worker which is shown on national television to the great consternation of his superiors.
“(Actor Jerzy) Stuhr worked with Kieslowski on the film's dialogue and apparently created the character of the amateur camera buff on his own from a close observation of this odd-ball, vulnerably human specimen of mankind. Every move that Stuhr makes tickles the funny bone. But there's much more - this is a parable on Polish life made with feeling and compassion.... The parody on the film industry alone (not only in Poland, but in every country) will also bring gleeful tears to the eyes of anyone who knows the insides of the business.” -Ronald Holloway, Variety.

Krzysztof Kieslowski, who made his reputation in Polish television, is now considered somewhat of an “enfant terrible” and one of a trio of top Polish directors, along with Wajda and Zanussi (who makes a brief appearance in Amator).