A silent 1913 version directed by Albert Capellani is hosted for free on the Internet Archive .
The story follows , an unemployed machinist who finds work in the hellish coal mines of Montsou. Germinal Filme Drive
: Lantier leads a massive strike against the mining company's wage cuts, fueled by socialist ideals. A silent 1913 version directed by Albert Capellani
Any comprehensive guide to the film must reference its source material, the 1885 novel by Émile Zola. Any comprehensive guide to the film must reference
Set in northern France during the 1860s, the film follows (played by Renaud), an unemployed machinist who arrives in the coal-mining town of Montsou. He finds work at the Voreux mine and moves in with the Maheu family, led by the steadfast Toussaint Maheu ( Gérard Depardieu ) and his determined wife, La Maheude (Miou-Miou).