Andrzej Wajda's English-language film of a novella by Józef Teodor Konrad Korzeniowski, aka Joseph Conrad, about a young man in his first command as a sea captain. A series of crises prove incredibly difficult for his new authority, for the sea is curiously becalmed and the crew is weakened by feverish malaria. When the first mate's fear convinces many that the ship is haunted and cursed by the malevolent spirit of the previous captain, the young man must cope with their superstition as well as the conspicuous absence of much-needed medicine.

Прагът на зрелостта е носител на специалната награда на журито от Фестивала на полското кино през 1976 г. Драмата на режисьора Анджей Вайда е заснета по едноименния разказ на родения в Украйна писател от полски произход Джоузеф Конрад.

Młody i niedoświadczony oficer marynarki handlowej Conrad - Polak z pochodzenia, obejmuje po raz pierwszy dowództwo statku handlowego. Ma przyprowadzić z Bangkoku do Singapuru statek, którego kapitan niespodziewanie umarł. Okazuje się, że statek jest zaniedbany, załoga niezdyscyplinowana. Jedynym doświadczonym marynarzem na pokładzie jest niechętny nowemu kapitanowi I oficer Burns, lecz jeszcze przed wyruszeniem w rejs zapada na cholerę.