A story about a complicated love affair of two young people whose love eventually overcomes the divisions related to tradition, prejudice and the tragic post-war heritage. The picture is also a para-documentary showing the harsh and difficult life of the families of people working on rivers.
An old man who used to work on the Vistula River and his son Janek transport goods along the Oder River on an old barge. The old man hates the Germans who killed his wife during the war. He misses the Vistula river and wants to persuade his son to come back. Janek enviously watches the modern, metal barges he sees on the river. He is very much fond of Elza, the daughter of skipper Veita. Elza’s father hates Poles. The old barge’s bottom cracks and the vessel must be disposed of. Janek and Elza want to get married despite their fathers’ mutual hatred. Janek loses his job after he’s falsely accused of smuggling. His father sinks the barge and drowns with it. Despite it all, Elza wants to stay with Janek forever.
