Original subtitles

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.

There. He's perfect.

Come on.

Do we go down deep?

No, not too deep.

600 metres.

That much.

The first time, you must shout three times, "Farewell, happy days."

- Yes. - It's traditional.

Go on.

- Farewell, happy days. - What's that? Louder.

- Louder! - Farewell, happy days.

Oh, my God! We're going to crash! We're all going to die!

Come on.

Come on.

Farewell, happy days.

I'm going to catch you. I'm going to catch you.

Don't get under my feet.

Alzire, I need you to look after the baby.

- But I've got school. - It won't be for long.

Sit down.

Lénore, Henri, come with me.

Here, put on your coat.

Come on.

Hurry up.

Come on.

Is it far?

We'll take a shortcut.

Have you come to pay what you owe?

I need more time, Mr Maigrat. Only till the end of the month.

More time.

But of course!

Is that why you've come with your kid For pity?

Just a few potatoes, coffee and sugar

A few potatoes, sugar!

How do I make a living if I give everyone credit?

- It's the last time. - You've said that before.

If your husband didn't get drunk you'd have money.

You're wrong. I forbid you to say tha

You forbid me, in my shop?

It's not yours, it's the company's.

So what?

What's the difference?

Get out.

Go on, get out.

Unless...

Wait there.

..you send Catherine to me.

We could make an arrangement.

You're a swine, Maigrat.

You'll never touch my daughter. Understand?

Never!

That's your problem. You Maheus are too proud.

At least we have that.

Come on. You're making us late.

Go on without me.

- I can't. - Impossible.

You've got no choice.

We start together, we leave together.

Let's not stay here. The air is bad.

What?

The flame must never become small and blue, OK?

What if it does?

It's already too late.

People say death blows out the lamp. Come on.

Come on. Let's go!

And Montsou, Mr Hennebeau. Where are we up to?

Everything is here.

If you please.

As you see, I've reduced the production costs

which my predecessor allowed to soar.

So, in spite of the crisis, we have reached our targets.

We've even exceeded them in the last quarter.

Right. That's the accounting side of things.

Our concern is the competition.

- Excuse me? - You know, Mr Hennebeau,

we are waging a war.

A war at national scale.

Global, even.

Yes. I'm aware of that.

So, why have you allowed a brand-new mine to open right beside our pits?

You mean Jean-Bart?

- I can't stop an independent owner.. - Of course you can.

You must.

But Deneulin won't sell.

You must persuade him.

Or we'll find someone else to do so.

Next.

Chaval, pass me your bottle, please.

Like this.

Come on. It's our turn.

Always push.

Never pull.

OK.

I can't do it.

You're not on the rails.

Look. Like this.

Now push it to the hitching point. Go on.

Go on.

Put your hands here, like that.

Lower your back. Go on, push.

Go on!

Thank you.

Madam, there's someone to see you.

Good morning, madam.

Good morning, sir.

I'm sorry to bother you. I...

- I've come... - I think I understand.

We've put some old clothing aside.

Still in good condition or mended. That might help you.

Yes, thank you.

Fetch the clothes, please, Mélanie.

Children.

Here you are.

Here.

Go on.

Thank you.

Thank you.

That's why I'm here.

I need a few pennies to feed my family.

No, madam.

I can't help you.

Everyone must learn to manage their finances.

You understand?

Good day.

Thank you.

Let's go. Thank you for everything.

Wait!

You dropped this.

Thank you.

Are you looking at me like that or my bread?

Thank you.

Slowly, or you'll choke.

Where are you from?

- Lille. - You haven't got an accent.

It's a long story.

I'm not in a hurry.

I was born in Paris.

When I was 12, my mother sent me to Lille as an apprentice.

After that she died.

So I stayed in the North.

You never saw her again?

No.

She gave her all for others.

She died in poverty.

Hey, newbie.

You're eating the girl's bread?

- That's not nice. - Stop it, Antoine.

What do you mean? Come here, you.

Don't forget it's Sunday tomorrow.

I don't owe anything to anyone.

That's settled. I'll pick you up on Sunday to go to the dance.

Yes, right.

Is he your boyfriend?

No. He's just a friend.

He's like that with all the girls.

Time to get back to it.

Back to work.

I took a long time, I know.

It's all right, Mum. I put the water on for the soup.

Estelle is asleep in her cradle. Grandpa's upstairs.

Can I go?

Well done. Go.

- Can we play upstairs? - Yes. Go up.

This is crap.

You must place the props correctly as you go.

If there's an accident, you'll whine that it's the board's fault.

The seam is too hard.

It takes too long if we want to earn anything.

The company should ensure our safety. Négrel agrees with us.

You should speak to me, not the engineer.

When a horse dies, I have to answer for it, not Négrel.

It's not just horses that die down he

Miners are easier to replace than horses.

Is that the way you want to play it?

Very well. I'll fine you. That'll teach you.

Out of the way.

Arsehole. We'll end up paying them money.

What a bastard.

You can't accept this.

That's the way it is.

We just have to do what he said. We can forget about our wages.

You two can go back up. We don't need you.

No. I'll stay and help you.

Me too.

Come on, I'll show you.

Sure you don't want to do anything?

No.

No, I don't feel like it.

As you like.

What's that? A gift for me?

No, it's for her.

I can't imagine her face if I went back empty-handed.

- Things are no better between you? - On the contrary.

It's good that we left Paris.

We couldn't carry on as we were.

It was too painful.

No. I've given it up.

You know what you're missing, then.

For rainy days.

OK, Mum. Not too much.

Come on. Make room for the next.

Already, Mum?

You've had your time. Come on.

Go up and wake your grandfather. It's time.

- Go on. - All right. I'm coming.

Don't worry so. We'll manage.

You think so?

Yes.

We've always managed.

Haven't we?

Let me get you a shot of genever. You did well for your first day.

No, I don't drink alcohol.

What?

A beer, then?

OK, a beer.

So, tell us. How did you end up here?

I was in Lille, but my factory closed.

It's the crisis down there. No one's hiring.

So I went on the road and here I am.

You're lucky. You could have done wor

Yeah. And you're working with the lovely Catherine.

No. I see where you're going.

Catherine...

is private property.

I don't know how you did it, Mum, but it's good.

Here you are!

Where were you this time?

Hello.

- Did you steal it? - No, I didn't steal it, I found it.

Right. Take me for a fool.

I've told you I don't want that here.

Go and wash. You can't eat like that.

I've something to tell you.

The teacher is going to prepare me for the school leaving certificate.

She thinks I could even go to housekeeping school

or train to be a teacher.

That's good.

- It's good, isn't it? - Yes.

It's marvellous.

Come here.

It's good, darling.

Can I, Mum?

- I was scared that... - No.

We'll manage.

We'll manage.

It's easy for them in their office in Paris.

How am I supposed to persuade Deneuli I can't force him to sell.

Even if he wanted to sell, he might not sell to the company.

- Why not? - Because he despises me. I see it.

He never misses a chance to show it.

I've worked all my life for the compa They wouldn't fire me.

If they fire me, you lose everything too.

Your fine marriage, your job as engineer. All gone.

We must find some kind of a solution, Paul.

Did you want to tell me something?

I don't know if this is the right tim

Go ahead. We're here now.

I've had complaints from the gangs

- about the poor quality of the vein. - Yes.

I've gone over the plans, the calculations.

- And? - We're at a dead end.

There's a ground movement. There's nothing more in the current vein.

We have to find a new seam.

And that's possible, of course.

But it'll be expensive.

Good night, mate.

Good night.

Come and eat. You must be starving.

Good evening.

MANIFESTO COMMUNIST PARTY

You know it?

A little.

So that's why you've taken refuge in this rathole.

Are you talking about my inn?

No. I'm talking about all this. This mine.

This hell.

I just want to earn a living.

Like anyone.

Like anyone.

Of course.

Scarves, handkerchiefs, ribbons!

Six sous a scarf, three sous a ribbon

Madam, madam...

What are you waiting for, Étienne?

I don't know if she likes me.

Sometimes you have to take a risk.

You have to force your destiny.

I think this one is perfect.

- Is it silk? - Of course it is.

Thank you.

Six sous a scarf, three sous a ribbon

I'll catch you up.

Sir, a ribbon or a scarf?

What are you going to do?

I don't know.

- Don't you like him? - Yes, of course.

Well, then...

He's handsome, but he scares me a bit

There he is.

I didn't know what you've done but he looks quite smitten.

I haven't done anything.

Come on.

There you are! Done and dusted!

A victory for Vasseur!

Who'd like to go up against Vasseur?

Who will put the gloves on? Who dares to?

Who will come up? Who dares?

If you last one minute, you'll win a bottle of booze.

- OK? - Have you seen Catherine?

No, I haven't.

- Here's one! - Come forward, sir!

Go on! You can handle him.

- Go on. - He'll beat him to a pulp.

I'd like to see that.

You can handle him.

- No matter if you can't fight. - He can't fight either.

Don't be a big girl!

Are you a miner or what?

Go on!

- Go on, Étienne! - Go on!

Go, Étienne!

Come on, so people can see what a real miner's like!

Go on, newbie!

Newbie! Newbie!

Look him right in the eyes.

Go on, Étienne!

I've missed you.

Go on, Étienne!

Go on, Bouteloup!

My turn. For the honour of miners.

I want you so much. You're so beautif

Wait.

Gently.

I know, I'm clumsy.

But I like you so much.

I love you.

No, stop.

Leave it to me.

No, stop.

You're mine now. You're mine.

REMINDER LETTER