The Waves of the Danube (1959)

Director
Liviu Ciulei

Main cast
Lazar Vrabie; Liviu Ciulei; Irina Petrescu; Ștefan Ciubotărașu; Costel Constantinescu

Genres
War, Drama

Description
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.


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