Quo Vadis is a story, as behooves a Nobel prize-winning novel, with an intricate plot, one well known to the members of Polish audiences most of whom have read the book. For those who however have not had that pleasure, knowing something about the story of the film will make it easier to follow its twists and turns, particularly for those who will need to rely on the film's English subtitles, since the film is in Polish
The opening sequence of the film shows two gladiators locked in a fight to the finish. The setting is Imperial Rome in 54 - 68 A.D., during the reign of Emperor Nero. Human life counts for little. Next, we are introduced at his home to one of the films chief protagonists, Petronius, a refined arbiter of taste, a skeptic, and a friend of the Emperor. He is visited by Marcus Vinicius, his nephew and a Roman officer. Vinicius has just returned from a campaign in Asia Minor. He confides to his uncle that, upon his return to Rome, he has fallen in love with a beautiful and mysterious girl named Lygia, a Ligian whom he has met in the house of a retired Roman military leader, Aulus Plaucius.
Wishing to help the young man, Petronius suggests paying a visit to the Plaucius' house. On their arrival, Petronius can see for himself that his nephew's enchantment is justified; he decides to help him. Meanwhile, Vinicius and Lygia meet in the garden, where the girl draws a fish in the sand. with a stick The young man, however, is so stunned by the girl's beauty that he doesn't seem to notice it.
Vinicius( Pawel Delag)
St. Peter and Ligia( Magdalena Mielcarz and Franciszek Pieczka)
Nero ( Michal Bajor)
Chilo Chilonides( Jerzy Trela)
Two days later,. Lygia is escorted by the Emperor's Praetorian guard to his palace. As the daughter of the Ligian King, she is to be kept under the Emperor's supervision. When Vinicius hears about this from Plaucius, he is enraged. However, Petronius tells him that this is but a ploy that will make it possible for Lygia to be soon conveyed to Vinicius'es house.
In the Emperor's palace, Lygia is groomed by Akte, Nero's former mistress, for a great feast in the Emperor's honor. At the feast, Lygia is quite impressed by the glamour surrounding her but enchantment vanishes when Vinicius, drunk, harasses her. She is rescued by Ursus, her faithful servant, an amazingly strong, athletic Ligian who spirits her from the feast, leaving the inebriated Vinicius unable to follow. Next day, Lygia, is being fetched by Vinicius'es servants but, mirablile dictu, ends up instead among the followers of Jesus Christ.
Vinicius, in despair and rage, wants to find the Lygia at all costs. Again, his uncle, Petronius, offers his help. He dispatches Chilo Chiloides, a Greek to find Lygia. Chilo is convinced that Lygia has found refuge among the Christians. At the same time Nero's daughter dies and Lygia is accused of having killed her because, during her stay in the palace, she had cast her eye on the little girl in the garden. Petronius, who wants to protect Lygia from danger, suggests that Nero, and his court, go to the Imperial summer residence in Ancium.
Meanwhile, during the night Vinicius accompanies Chilo and Kroton, a famous gladiator, to an old graveyard in Ostrianum where the Christians meet. There they spots Lygia with Ursus and decide to follow them.. Vinicius, with Kroton's help, tries to take possession of Lygia but is struck unconscious by Ursus' powerful fist. He comes to in a Christian house, and there encounters Lygia. He discovers that she shares his feelings of affection. However, Peter the Apostle advises Lygia to avoid Vinicius unless he embraces her faith.
In vain, Vinicius tries to forget Lygia. Unable to do so, he decides to seek out Paul of Tarsus to whom he tells of his affection for Lygia, of his doubts and his wish to be joined with her in the Christian faith. Lygia is sent for and the young couple is blessed by Peter. Vinicius goes to Ancium to be at the Imperial court, leaving Lygia behind in Rome.
Nero, still in Ancium, recites and is much taken by a poem about the burning of Troy. Soon Rome is set on fire. Vinicius, now in Ancium, hurries back to Rome to search for Lygia. He runs into the Greek, Chilo who leads him to the place where the Christian have found shelter. It is there that Vinicius is baptised by Peter the Apostle.
On Nero's orders, the Christians, accused of have set fire to Rome, are to be sought out and punished. The Roman mob is promised spectacular Games during which appropriate punishment will be inflicted upon the Christians. Petronius, having gotten wind of this, tries to warn Vinicius, but it is too late, Lygia has already been taken into custody. She falls ill and ends up in a coma. Vinicius persists to make efforts to get her out of the prison, but to no avail. More and more Christians die in the arena.
It turns out that Nero has devised a special spectacle for the closing of the Games. Lygia is to be spectacle's main attraction. First Ursus is made to enter the empty arena. Then a wild bull, with a beautiful naked woman tied to its back runs into the arena. The woman is Lygia. The odds seem uneven, yet, by a supreme effort, Ursus manages to brake the animal's neck. The crowd goes wild and cries "Mercy!". Much against his will, Nero feels forced to set Lygia and Ursus free..
Vinicius takes Lygia out of harm's way to Sicily. Before departing, he advises Peter to flee from Rome as soon as possible. Peter follows his advice but on his flight meets Christ and asks him: Quo Vadis - where are you going. To Rome to be crucified again - Christ answers. Shamed, Peter turns around to bo back to Rome and martyrdom. Petronius, knowing that he Nero will impose a death sentence upon him, commits suicide. There is a mutiny among the Gallic legions. The Emperor Nero has to die.
