Germinal (1993)
- Starring:
- Gérard Depardieu, Miou-Miou, (more)
- Director(s):
- Claude Berri
- Theatrical MPAA Rating:
- R
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Claude Berri's angry, ambitious epic, based on the 19th-century novel by Emile Zola, re-creates, as does the novel, the gut-wrenching poverty and the intense day-by-day struggles of striking French coal-miners in 1884 at the Voreux mines of France. The film centers upon the bitter toils of Maheu (Gerard Depardieu) and his family -- consisting of his iron-willed wife (Miou-Miou) and their daughter Catherine (Judith Henry), who also works in the mines. When a new miner, Etienne Lantier (Renaud), comes to Voreux to seek work, he is befriended by Maheu, who takes him on his mining crew and allows him to stay at his home. Etienne is also an organizer for a new miner's union and, as conditions in the Voreux mines worsen, Etienne convinces Maheu to organize a miner's strike. Meanwhile, Etienne is attracted to Catherine, and Catherine to him, but she doesn't act upon her feelings, taking up, instead, with Chaval (Jean-Roger Milo), a local ne'er do well. As conditions in the mines become more desperate and unsafe, and the owners propose to cut wages, Maheu at last stages a massive strike of the miners. When that happens, the owners send in armed soldiers to defend the mines. ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide
Complete Cast:
- Gérard Depardieu - Maheu
- Jean Carmet - Bonnemort
- Jean-Roger Milo - Chaval
- Jean-Pierre Bisson - Rasseneur
- Jacques Dacqmine - M Hennebeau
- Annick Alane - Madame Gregoire
- André Chaumeau - Company Cashier
- Frederique Ruchaud - Honorine
- Delphine Quentin - Lucie Deneulin
- Jenny Cleve - Rose
- Fred Personne - Pluchart
- Miou-Miou - Maheude
- Judith Henry - Catherine Maheu
- Laurent Terzieff - Souvarine
- Bernard Fresson - Deneulin
- Anny Duperey - Mme Hennebeau
- Gerard Croce - Maigrat
- Anne Marie Pisani - La Mouquette
- Georges Staquet - Levaque
- Yvette Petit - Veuve Desir
- Yolande Moreau - La Levaque
- André Julien - Mouque
- Director(s):
- Claude Berri
- Writer(s):
- Bruce Robinson, Claude Berri, Arlette Langmann
- Producer(s):
- Claude Berri
- Theatrical MPAA Rating:
- R(Not For Children)
- Closed Captioning:
- Check All Versions
- Subtitles:
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- 1993 - French Academy of Cinema - Best Costumes
- 1993 - French Academy of Cinema - Best Cinematography
- 1993 - French Academy of Cinema - Best Costumes
- 1993 - French Academy of Cinema - Best Costumes
