Germinal - First Season

Hey, what's wrong? Easy.

Run!

Firedamp!

- Dad! - Where are Zacharie and Fleurance?

- Weren't they with you? - Shit!

Dansaert!

- We have to get the people out. - Impossible. The fire's spread.

They're coming up!

Zacharie!

Struggle. Unremitting struggle.

That is the meaning of our lives here on Earth.

Ever since Adam and Eve were banished from the Garden of Eden,

every day is a battle,

against nature, against savagery,

against the sin which is within all of us.

You weep for Fleurance, I know.

I weep for her too.

But we must remain united with Jesus

for the salvation of her soul and our.

You work hard,

without respite.

But we must continue to trust in those who show us the way.

In our engineers.

In our director.

Now let us pray.

To Fleurance.

- To Fleurance. - To Fleurance.

To Fleurance, until the next one.

- All right, Rasseneur. - Don't be a hypocrite, Maheu.

How many accidents in six months?

What has your uncle done about safety? Nothing.

He's aware of the problem. He can't do anything at the moment.

- It's the crisis. - The crisis is ours at the moment.

I understand your concern and I promise that things will change.

The world won't stop turning.

And coal will be needed more and more.

Believe me.

I wish you a good Sunday.

The truth is that they don't care if we die.

As long as they get their profit.

You mustn't believe what they say in Paris. People live very well here.

The company gives them everything they need.

Lodgings, a school, a doctor.

They even get free coal.

You'll see.

It's very well kept. Congratulations.

Thank you.

And you have plenty of space.

How many of you live here?

There are ten of us.

But there are two bedrooms upstairs.

Yes.

Well, I don't know.

Please don't take this the wrong way.

Is it sensible to have so many childr in your situation?

Right!

We won't bother you any longer. Thank you for allowing us in.

Goodbye.

Come along.

But we're not unhappy, madam.

We're not complaining.

Goodbye, madam. Goodbye.

- Well done. - Yes!

Your turn.

Unless you'd rather give up now.

Catherine.

If I win,

I'll take you dancing in Marchiennes.

Take it easy with my sister.

I didn't say I'd go.

I told you, he likes you.

- The other girls will be jealous. - Nonsense.

- So... - Good shot, huh?

Come on.

Can you give him the money, please?

The money to feed our child?

I was unlucky.

You're always unlucky.

You're hopeless.

It doesn't matter.

I slipped.

Yes, that's right.

- Really, Catherine. - Come on.

Catherine. I didn't mean to.

I slipped.

Catherine!

I promise you, I slipped.

- Deneulin. - Philippe.

- I expected to see you in church. - Something came up.

Impressive.

Even though you have to work on a Sunday.

That's small businesses for you.

- You have to do everything yourself. - I see.

But isn't all this investment too much of a strain?

With stocks piling up and rates collapsing.

I hear you're taking on workers and increasing wages.

That's what worries you, isn't it? I'm treating my workers too well.

Me? No.

But the company maybe.

How do you expect them to approve of this in Paris?

The company is your boss, not mine.

This is my place and I do what I like.

David! Let her go.

Stand back.

This mine is all I have left of my wife.

I want my daughter to inherit it.

Madam?

Madam.

Madam.

The guests are arriving.

More, more.

Stop it, Paul.

You know it's a big day. Hurry up.

You should have seen him. He was tryi to impress me with his machines,

and he was a mechanic.

How pretentious.

Here you are.

Please excuse me.

Now we can get to the real purpose of this lunch.

I wanted us all to come together

to celebrate some excellent news.

We have finally found a date for the wedding.

Cécile, Paul, we'll give you the finest wedding of the year.

- To the wedding. - To the wedding.

What do you want?

Pluchart sent me.

Here.

Thank you.

He says you're a good man.

Why did you have to leave Lille?

I had problems.

Look, Pluchart is an old friend,

but if you don't tell me more I can't help you.

My friends from the factory and I wanted to set up a union.

A cooperative for the families.

But we got chucked out.

The boss came with his henchmen.

I injured one of them.

But it was self-defence.

Pluchart said no one would look for me here,

and you could give me lodgings and maybe find me work.

- Pluchart's a good man... - Sir, I beg you.

They swore to get me.

So if you have any kind of job I'll take it.

I'll see what I can do, but don't make any trouble.

Thank you.

Not too nervous?

Are you joking? With this, they'll be eating out of my hand in Paris.

I'll come back by the last train.

Thank you.

I'm entrusting the mine to you. While I'm away, you're the boss.

Hey, Zacharie.

Come on, it's time to get up.

Get up.

Come on, wake up, lazybones. It's time to get up.

Dad! It's time to get up.

Come on.

The Maheus don't like getting out of bed, do they?

It's hard this morning.

All right?

- Yes. And you? - Yes.

- Do you want a bit? - No, thank you.

Everything that's mine is yours, Catherine.

Everything.

You owe me a favour.

I told you I don't like taking on strangers.

- Have you been underground before? - I told you he was a pit boy.

- Why didn't you stay in Lille? - My...

- His factory closed. - Can't he speak for himself?

Will you take him or not?

You're in luck.

A putter's job has just come up.

- Do you know what that is? - Of course.

Lift your arms.

Good.

Mouth.

At your service.

Maheu, you're just in time. This is a new man to replace Fleuranc.

See you tonight, Dad.

You can look after him and...

Gang!

- What's your name? - Étienne Lantier.

Those aren't miner's hands.

- I won't disappoint you. - You don't know that, mate.

Fleurance, who you're replacing, didn't even last a month.

Did she leave?

- She died. - All right.

Go with Catherine and Jeanlin to get your gear.

- Go on. - Thank you.

Let's go.

You'll see it's not as hard as all th.

They're just kidding you.

Do you go down as well?

- How old are you? - Me? I'm 13.

Well, I think so. I'm already an old hand here.

Are you the new guy?

Not bad.

A bit thin, but not bad.

I thought you only went out with real miners.

Well, look at this.