The Plot
In the 1890s, Father Adolf Daens goes to Aalst, a textile town where child labor is rife, pay and working conditions are horrible, the poor have no vote, and the Catholic church backs the petite bourgeoisie in oppressing workers. He writes a few columns for the Catholic paper, and soon workers are listening and the powerful are in an uproar. He's expelled from the Catholic party, so he starts the Christian Democrats and is elected to Parliament. After Rome disciplines him, he must choose between two callings, as priest and as champion of workers. In subplots, a courageous young woman falls in love with a socialist and survives a shop foreman's rape; children die; prelates play billiards.
2h 18m
Drama, History
01 Oct 1992
Belgium, France, Netherlands
Latin, French, Dutch, Spanish
Director & Producers
Top Billed Cast
Jan DecleirAdolf Daens
Gérard DesartheCharles Woeste
Antje De BoeckNette Scholliers
Michaël PasJan De Meeter
Jefke
Julien SchoenaertsBisschop Stillemans
Pieter Daens
Louise Daens
Johan LeysenSchmitt
Linda van DyckElizabeth Borremans
Idwig StephaneEugene Borremans
Jappe ClaesPonnet
Technical Team
Louis Paul BoonNovel
Writer
Stijn ConinxWriter
Writer
Scenario Writer
Dirk BrosséMusic
Director of Photography
Editor
Sound Re-Recording Mixer
Benoît BiralSound Recordist
Sound Editor
Boom Operator


Jean-Luc Ormières
Maria Peters
Hans Pos
Dave Schram