In Transylvania, in the 19th century, the village birthplace of a rich farmer's son is undergoing a cholera epidemic when he returns from studying at a university, and bodies are being removed from houses. Once at home, he spies the beautiful daughter of a local forester. However, one of his father's servants has also seen her, and they become rivals in love.
Director Nicolae Margineanu puts his delicate touch on this masterpiece, novel-based film, a dramatic love story set in the midst of a cholera epidemic. The unfulfilled love between the son of a wealthy peasant and beautiful but poor girl, has definite overtones of "Pride and Prejudice" set in the Austro-Hungarian empire at the end of the XIX century. Iorgovan, the prodigal son, is on a collision course not only with his family, but also with his servant, Sofron, over beautiful Simina.