Director Jerzy Hoffman gained his place in history of Polish cinematography through adaptations of the popular Trilogy of epic prose by Nobel Prize winner Henryk Sienkiewicz. Hoffman's fascination with Sienkiewicz goes back to his time as a child in Siberia, to where his family was displaced from Stryj (Poland) during World War II. He received his first copy of the Trilogy form his father who fought on the Eastern Front. By chance Hoffman received books in reverse order and this was also the order in which he made his adaptations. First came Getleman Wolodyjowski, then Deluge and finally With Fire and Sword. The first book, With Fire and Sword was censored at the time and he consequently read it on his return to Poland. The completion of With Fire and Sword was seen as a triumph after 'Hoffman's 30-year war" with the Polish government. The Communists' dislike of Sienkiewicz, the author who represented 'old and noble Poland', did not effect the enormous enthusiasm for his books amongst the Polish public. Hoffman's adaptations have always been greeted with sincere applause and became national events, breaking box office records. Of all his projects With Fire and Sword received the most objection by the government when initially wanted to begin the film in the late 1960's. It was not until well after the political changes in 1989 that it was possible to make and release the film