Henry Kesdi is a silenced classical composer and a survivor of the Holocaust. He is coaxed out from retirement by an inspired musicologist, Stefan, who convinces him to compose a complex symphony on his neglected piano. As a help Kesdi gets his new musical secretary. His loyal wife reluctantly accepts her as his young lover.
| Actor | Role |
|---|---|
 Max von SydowHenry Kesdi | Henry Kesdi |
 Lothaire BluteauStefan Bugajski | Stefan Bugajski |
 Sarah MilesHelena Kesdi | Helena Kesdi |
 Sofie GråbølAnnette Berg | Annette Berg |
 Aleksander BardiniProf. Jerzy Kern | Prof. Jerzy Kern |
 Beata TyszkiewiczGelda | Gelda |
 Sławomira ŁozińskaDoctor's Wife | Doctor's Wife |
 Peter Hesse OvergaardJoseph Kesdi | Joseph Kesdi |
 Lars LunøeDoctor | Doctor |
 Trevor CooperMuller | Muller |
 Stanisław BrejdygantMaier | Maier |
| MMaja PloszynskaChild | Child |
 Eugenia HermanMrs. Olsen | Mrs. Olsen |
 Krystyna Sznerr-MierzejewskaApplicant | Applicant |
 Wiktor ZborowskiNot listed | Not listed |
| SStanislaw HollyNot listed | Not listed |
| PPeter ThurrellNot listed | Not listed |
| CCatherine ThornborrowApplicant | Applicant |
 Piotr WojtowiczNot listed | Not listed |
| WWasyl MaslennikowNot listed | Not listed |
 Krystyna ChmielewskaLibrarian | Librarian |
 Eugeniusz PriwieziencewGuest at the Party (uncredited) | Guest at the Party (uncredited) |