Marion is pregnant, but she doesn't know by whom. Three men come into question, all of whom will die sooner or later in the course of the movie. Just like all of us - as an announcement at the beginning of the film announces to the audience. The semi-documentary and fragmentarily narrated film leads via various paths and detours to the river that gives the film its title.
| Actor | Role |
|---|---|
| AAngela DrögemöllerMarion | Marion |
| HHorst WalterThomas von Stein | Thomas von Stein |
| MMathias EichhornDr. Silesius | Dr. Silesius |
| HHanni KnössFred's Mother | Fred's Mother |
| FFerdinand KramerDr. Morath | Dr. Morath |
| HHella SchartenbergHella | Hella |
| IIngeborg NödingerMrs. Mordhorst | Mrs. Mordhorst |
| WWerner BockelmannNot listed | Not listed |
| OOlga EngelhardtNot listed | Not listed |
| MMagdalena KoppNot listed | Not listed |
| DDieter LühmannNot listed | Not listed |
| OOlivia Engelhardt(voice) | (voice) |