The eruption of an oil well is much needed for the survival of the workers and their families living nearby.

This feature-length film, made in 1964, is set on the Austro-Hungarian front during World War One. A lieutenant who participates in the hanging of a Czech deserter is so tormented by remorse that he ends up deserting too, but he gets caught, and is sentenced to death himself.

Ciulei’s second feature recalls the best of Fritz Lang and Michael Curtiz in its WWII-era espionage tale, set on a barge transporting Nazi munitions up the Danube. Ciulei himself givers a superb performance as Mihai, the barge captain forced to navigate the heavily mined waters along with his new bride, Ana (Irina Petrescu). As the journey wears on, Mihai becomes increasingly suspicious of one of his crew, ex-convict Toma (Lazar Vrabie), and his intentions towards Ana. But Toma has a far graver—and potentially deadly—secret to conceal.