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Germinal (1993)

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Average Rating: 6.9/10
Reviews Counted: 10
Fresh: 9 | Rotten: 1

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Average Rating: N/A
Critic Reviews: 2
Fresh: 2 | Rotten: 0

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Average Rating: 3.6/5
User Ratings: 1,739

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Movie Info

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),

R, 2 hr. 38 min.

Art House & International, Drama

Directed By: Claude Berri

Written By: �mile Zola, Claude Berri, Arlette Langmann

In Theaters: Jan 1, 1994 Wide

On DVD: Nov 30, 1994

Sony Pictures Home Entertainment

Germinal Trailer & Photos

Cast

G�rard Depardieu
Maheu
Miou-Miou
Maheude
Jean Carmet
Bonnemort
Judith Henry
Catherine Maheu
Jean-Roger Milo
Chaval
Laurent Terzieff
Souvarine
Jean-Pierre Bisson
Rasseneur
Bernard Fresson
Deneulin
Jacques Dacqmine
M Hennebeau
Anny Duperey
Mme Hennebeau
Annick Alane
Madame Gregoire
G�rard Croce
Maigrat
Andr� Chaumeau
Company Cashier
Jenny Cl�ve
Rose
Andr� Julien
Mouque
Yolande Moreau
La Levaque
Fred Personne
Pluchart
Yvette Petit
Veuve Desir
Anne Marie Pisani
La Mouquette
Delphine Quentin
Lucie Deneulin
Frederique Ruchaud
Honorine
Georges Staquet
Levaque
Renaud Danner
Miou Miou
Renaud
Jean Roger Milo

Critic Reviews for Germinal

All Critics (14) | Top Critics (4) | Fresh (9) | Rotten (1)

Deals with a mining strike in 19th century France and comes across as a poignant depiction of class warfare.

August 22, 2002 Full Review Source: Spirituality and Practice

| Comment

Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat

Spirituality and Practice

An extremely moving tale that points to the ultimate hopelessness of the human condition.

January 1, 2000 Full Review Source: Internet Reviews

| Comment

Steve Rhodes

Internet Reviews

Big and impressive in its epic scope, Germinal nevertheless suffers from uneven acting, over-the-top histrionics and a constant dark and dour tone.

January 1, 2000 Full Review Source: Deseret News, Salt Lake City

| Comment

Chris Hicks

Deseret News, Salt Lake City

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Audience Reviews for Germinal

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A well-made historical epic filled with brutal reality and historical accuracy. Not the best of its genre, but quite entertaining and very informative.

May 22, 2007

Mike T.

Super Reviewer

Vividly grim and grimy adaptation of the Emile Zola novel about unionization of French coal miners in the late 1800s. So realistic I contracted black lung from watching it.

January 31, 2012