This somber drama chronicles the writings of Paltiel Kossover (Michel Jonasz), a Rumanian Jew who was incarcerated in a Stalinist prison. Zupanev (Erland Josephson) is a sympathetic court registrar who smuggles the documents and later presents them to the poet's son Grisha (Vincent David).

Michel Jonasz
Paltiel Kossover

Erland Josephson
Zupanev

Wojciech Pszoniak
Judge

Philippe Léotard
Bernard Hauptmann
Vincent David
Grisha Kossover

Ann Zacharias
Inge
Mosko Alkalai
Paltiel's Father

Georges Beller
Yvan
Timna Brover
Singer
Ninette Dinar
Paltiel's Mother

Peter Hudson
Ephraim

Malek Kateb
Dr. Mozliak

Serge Merlin
Grossman

László Szabó
Paul Hamburger
Patrick Tessari