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Germinal
Belgium/France/Italy - 1993
Directed by Claude Berri
Based on the 1884 novel by Emile Zola, this film tells the story of the bleak lives of coal miners in Northern France in the 19th Century. Gerard Depardieu plays Maheu, a natural leader who has led his own children into the mines. He befriends Etienne Lantier (played by Renaud), an unemployed machinist who takes a job in the mines and enters Maheu's home as a lodger.
Conditions in the mines are intolerable, with the miners expected to reinforce the dangerous tunnels on their own time, which results in frequent accidents. The miners are consistently paid less money for more work. Maheu, encouraged by Lantier, convinces the miners to strike.
The film takes a sharp look at the contrast between the poverty of the miner's lives with the opulent lifestyle of the mine owners. There is also an honest look at the theory that oppression equals depression as we observe starving workers spending their last few sous to drown their sorrows.
The production of this film was on a grand scale. Germinal achieves a level of realism combined with a poignant human story that is rare. A person suffering from claustrophobia probably should not watch this film as the closeness of the mine scenes is palpable, leaving you gasping for breath. We felt blackened by the coal soot but cleansed by the clarity and freshness of the film. Sully yourself, you can rinse off later.
Runtime: 170 minutes
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