Jacob (Dorel Visan) is a gold miner who risks his life daily to support his wife, mother-in-law, and four children in this socio-political drama. Under the rule of an oppressive monarchy backed by military force, the miners often resort to stealing gold to compensate for their meager wages. Workers are subjected to strip searches and are forced to take laxatives by the often brutal guards and inspectors as they look for stolen gold, and Jacob raises his vocal objections over the treatment of his fellow workers.
Arguing with his parents, Petre, a teenager, moves at his bigger brother, Andrei, a successful actor. There he meets Dora, one of his brother's young fans. When Andrei gives the girl his attention, Petre feels abandoned and runs away without even taking the hundred lei bill his brother had given him. A car runs Petre down. When he learns about this tragic accident, Andrei realizes - while watching his own smiling face in a musical on TV - that underneath his glittering success, he lives an empty life.
In this monumental Romanian film, a large family and its many generations vie for advantage, seeking to win the inheritance sure to be left behind by a wealthy older man of the clan. This movie is based on a popular novel by George Calinescu, and is similar in some ways to England's BBC television series, The Forsythe Saga, based on Galsworthy's books. Along the way, stories of friendship, love and rivalry emerge. In one story, a poor young man is disappointed in love as his girl chooses lucre over love in selecting a mate.
Matei recollects events of the year 1944 in order to prove the innocence of a friend.
Based on "Șoseaua Nordului" (Northern Highway) novel by Eugen Barbu.
