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IMDbPro

Germinal

  • 19931993
  • RR
  • 2h 40m
IMDb RATING
7.1/10
5.5K
YOUR RATING
Germinal (1993)
Watch Bande-annonce [OV]
Play trailer1:34
2 Videos
21 Photos
DramaRomance
In mid-nineteenth-century northern France, a coal mining town's workers are exploited by the mine's owner. One day, they decide to go on strike, and the authorities repress them.In mid-nineteenth-century northern France, a coal mining town's workers are exploited by the mine's owner. One day, they decide to go on strike, and the authorities repress them.In mid-nineteenth-century northern France, a coal mining town's workers are exploited by the mine's owner. One day, they decide to go on strike, and the authorities repress them.
IMDb RATING
7.1/10
5.5K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Claude Berri
  • Writers
    • Émile Zola(novel)
    • Claude Berri(scenario)
    • Arlette Langmann(scenario)
  • Stars
    • Renaud
    • Gérard Depardieu
    • Miou-Miou
  • Director
    • Claude Berri
  • Writers
    • Émile Zola(novel)
    • Claude Berri(scenario)
    • Arlette Langmann(scenario)
  • Stars
    • Renaud
    • Gérard Depardieu
    • Miou-Miou
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 22User reviews
    • 9Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 2 wins & 11 nominations

    Videos2

    Bande-annonce [OV]
    Trailer 1:34
    Watch Bande-annonce [OV]
    Germinal
    Trailer 1:23
    Watch Germinal

    Photos21

    Germinal (1993)
    Germinal (1993)
    Germinal (1993)
    Germinal (1993)
    Judith Henry in Germinal (1993)
    Gérard Depardieu and Renaud in Germinal (1993)
    Gérard Depardieu and Miou-Miou in Germinal (1993)
    Gérard Depardieu in Germinal (1993)
    Gérard Depardieu in Germinal (1993)
    Gérard Depardieu and Renaud in Germinal (1993)
    Judith Henry, Miou-Miou, and Renaud in Germinal (1993)
    Jean-Roger Milo in Germinal (1993)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Renaud
    Renaud
    • Étienne Lantier
    Gérard Depardieu
    Gérard Depardieu
    • Toussaint Maheu
    Miou-Miou
    Miou-Miou
    • Maheude
    Jean Carmet
    Jean Carmet
    • Vincent Maheu dit Bonnemort
    Judith Henry
    • Catherine Maheu
    Jean-Roger Milo
    • Chaval
    Laurent Terzieff
    Laurent Terzieff
    • Souvarine
    Bernard Fresson
    Bernard Fresson
    • Victor Deneulin
    Jean-Pierre Bisson
    • Rasseneur
    Jacques Dacqmine
    Jacques Dacqmine
    • Philippe Hennebeau
    Anny Duperey
    Anny Duperey
    • Madame Hennebeau
    Gérard Croce
    • Maigrat
    Frédéric van den Driessche
    Frédéric van den Driessche
    • Paul Négrel
    Annick Alane
    • Madame Grégoire
    Pierre Lafont
    • Léon Grégoire
    Thierry Levaret
    • Zacharie Maheu
    Fred Personne
    • Pluchart
    Cécile Bois
    Cécile Bois
    • Cécile Grégoire
    • Director
      • Claude Berri
    • Writers
      • Émile Zola(novel)
      • Claude Berri(scenario)
      • Arlette Langmann(scenario)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The movie cost 165 milllion francs, which made it the most expensive French movie ever made at the time of release.
    • Goofs
      Near the end of the film, when Etienne and Catherine are looking for a way out of the mine, there are shadows of the lamps on the right wall of the tunnel. It's to be supposed that the only light inside the mine came from the lamps.
    • Quotes

      Etienne Lantier: Capitalist tyranny is destroying us.

    • Crazy credits
      Dedication at the beginning of the movie:  "For my father"
    • Alternate versions
      The UK version is cut by about 30 seconds to remove scenes of animal cruelty (two cocks fighting) to comply with the Cinematograph Films (Animals) Act 1937.
    • Connections
      Featured in Siskel & Ebert: Guarding Tess/Lightning Jack/The Hudsucker Proxy/The Ref/Belle Epoque/Germinal (1994)

    User reviews22

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    8/10
    A French epic masterpiece and "must see" for movie buffs.
    "Germinal", based on a novel by Emile Zola, is an epic film which studies the anatomy of a strike in a 19th century French coal mine. During it's 2.5+ hour run time, the film shows the wretchedness of coal miners, their deplorable living conditions, their attempts to organize, negotiations, strike, rioting, police suppression, sabotage, etc. The story is woven around a handful of characters who represent the forces at work; management, union, profiteers, scabs, etc.

    About Zola's novel, Havelock Ellis wrote: "It was neither amusing enough nor outrageous enough to attract the multitude". So it is with the film which emphasizes realism over romanticism and exists more as a study of a timeless social/political issue than pure commercial entertainment. A must see for cinema buffs but not likely have broad commercial appeal.
    helpful•28
    2
    • =G=
    • Apr 22, 2001

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • March 31, 1994 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • France
      • Belgium
      • Italy
    • Language
      • French
    • Also known as
      • Жерминаль
    • Filming locations
      • Valenciennes, Nord, France
    • Production companies
      • Renn Productions
      • France 2 Cinéma
      • DD Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • FRF 164,000,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 40 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby SR
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

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