Germinal

Etienne Lantier is hired in a coal mine in Montsou. He falls in love with Catherine Maheu, courted by Chaval. When the Company lowers the wages, Etienne spurs them to start a strike.

Time passes and the miners' anger grows. Etienne creates a solidarity fund for the coron. A landslide kills several men. This accident marks a point of no return: it's the strike!

The strike breaks out. The company sends Bressan to break the movement. The strike is stronger than ever ; decision is made to march on Jean Bart to cease all activity.

Strikers destroy the facilities, women plunder the grocery shop and lynch Maigrat. The dark Bressan, who fiercely hates Etienne, calls in the army. Repression is merciless.

Belgian workers come to restart production. The rioters try to push the soldiers back : they have nothing left to lose. The military fires. Many fall. Etienne falls out of favour.

Most of the miners agree to return to work to the sabotaged mine. The tunnels are quickly flooded, the mine starts collapsing. A few days later Etienne is rescued. He goes to Paris.