Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
Jan Decleir | ... | Adolf Daens | |
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Gérard Desarthe | ... | Charles Woeste |
Antje de Boeck | ... | Nette Scholliers | |
Michael Pas | ... | Jan De Meeter | |
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Karel Baetens | ... | Jefke |
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Julien Schoenaerts | ... | Bishop Stillemans |
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Wim Meuwissen | ... | Pieter Daens |
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Brit Alen | ... | Louise Daens |
Johan Leysen | ... | Schmitt | |
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Idwig Stephane | ... | Eugene Borremans |
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Linda van Dyck | ... | Elizabeth Borremans (as Linda van Dijck) |
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Jappe Claes | ... | Ponnet |
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Brenda Bertin | ... | Marie |
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Alex Wilequet | ... | Monsignor Goossens |
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Rik Hancké | ... | Nuncio |
In the 1890s, Father Adolf Daens goes to Aalst, a textile town where child labor is rife, pay and working conditions are horrible, the poor have no vote, and the Catholic church backs the petite bourgeoisie in oppressing workers. He writes a few columns for the Catholic paper, and soon workers are listening and the powerful are in an uproar. He's expelled from the Catholic party, so he starts the Christian Democrats and is elected to Parliament. After Rome disciplines him, he must choose between two callings, as priest and as champion of workers. In subplots, a courageous young woman falls in love with a socialist and survives a shop foreman's rape; children die; prelates play billiards. Written by <jhailey@hotmail.com>
The priest Daens (Jan Decleir) and his political master Charles Woeste (Gérard Desarthe) are opposing each other in this historical movie. Daens is a strong priest, convinced of his rightfulness to protect the workers. In the movie everything is worked out in detail and you can easily identify with the characters. The music is not so good and a little bit soft but the dramatic script keeps our attention until the end.