Original subtitles

Come to the fair! Ladies and gentlemen, get your windmills here! Two sous each!

Don't come to the fair without a windmill.

One for you, miss? Thank you. Two sous.

Thank you, miss.

Catherine?

What are you doing here?

The dance is about to start.

Come on.

Come on.

I can't raise this child forever.

Or else you can take him in. You're his grandmother too.

They're happy to swan about and go to bars.

But they don't accept their responsibilities.

He's still young. It's normal.

Catherine!

Over here!

A genever.

One more.

Are you OK?

La Mouquette, please, help me.

Come on.

Come on.

- What are you waiting for? - Nothing.

She belongs to him.

Maybe I can take her place.

What's the matter? What have I done?

Catherine.

I've already said. There's a child here growing up in sin.

And people talk in the village.

- It hurts me. - I know.

But how could we manage without his wages?

We know you're right.

- Let's go for the wedding. - Yes!

- Look, they're happy. - Of course.

Love is beautiful, so let's celebrate. It's my round.

- Very kind. - Thank you.

We have something to celebrate.

Excuse me.

Maybe we'll be next.

Take your time, though.

Catherine.

One more! One more!

So this is the fair.

I know that you've been working for days, or even weeks,

on a vein that's almost exhausted and becoming dangerous.

To thank you, we've decided not to delay any further

and to open a new vein and new stalls.

- That's good, isn't it? - It's fantastic.

He'd better have good news after we've waited so long.

I trust Négrel. It'll be all right.

Silence!

Right. I see you're all impatient to start.

Yes.

Today we are putting up to auction 18 new stalls.

That's wrong. There are 20 teams.

There's no mistake. We can only put up to auction 18 new stalls at the moment.

Which teams?

- So some will be left high and dry. - That's not allowed.

That's not right!

Shut up, Bouteloup! Shut up!

If you please. We can't do better for the moment.

18 stalls represent a big investment for the company.

Yeah, of course.

Let me remind you, there is a crisis.

What are the others meant to do?

They'll have to join the other teams.

Impossible. We won't earn enough.

Otherwise they can try their luck elsewhere.

Shut up!

Right. Paul, the first stall.

Yes. This is the uppermost part of the vein and the easiest to access.

Estimated thickness 1.5 metres.

Perfect. This is a reverse auction.

Let me remind you how it works.

Your team states the price at which you're prepared to take the stall.

The lowest price gets it.

Special price. 75 sous per wagon.

That's good, Le Mouque!

Thank you. Very funny.

Let's be serious.

The starting price is...

25 sous. Over to you.

25 sous is too low. We won't give in to blackmail.

Quiet!

We haven't got all day!

Team Charrier. I'll take it.

Charrier.

Not for 25 sous.

No more offers?

Team Jeannot, 24 sous.

Traitor.

Darras, 23!

Darras, come forward.

Stall number one goes to Darras at 23 sous.

Team Darras, with me!

Stall number two.

- Go on... - No. Don't move.

Stall number two. Charrier, 23 sous.

Stall number three.

Caron, 23 sous. We'll take it.

Caron, 23 sous.

Come forward.

Stall number four.

- Dubois, for 22. - 22 sous.

- Stall number five. - Lanquet, 22 sous.

22 sous...

- Number six? - Team Dupont. 21, I'll take it.

Maheu, for goodness' sake.

21 sous.

Stall number seven.

Levaque, 21 sous.

- No, Levaque. - Levaque, you can't...

- Bouteloup! - Hurry up, Levaque.

This is how things are. We need to eat too.

Stall number 15 goes to Domergue.

Number 16, team Petit.

- Stall number 17. - Team Lambert. 20 sous.

Lambert, come forward.

Stop this. If you don't speak, we'll have nothing.

You can't accept. At less than 20 sous no one can survive.

- Go on. - He said it's temporary.

Team Maheu.

19 sous.

Maheu, for 19 sous.

This vein is lousy. It's impossible.

Yeah, and we agreed to be paid a pittance.

Stop whining, for goodness sake.

Let's keep at it, come on!

Look at you. Keep up the pace.

Don't strike in different directions.

Keep it regular. There. Always in the same place.

What about me?

Won't you help me?

- What's wrong? - Nothing.

Are you in a mood with me?

Next time, why don't you ask Chaval to help you?

He's your boyfriend, isn't he?

It's all right. Everyone knows.

I saw you in the tunnel.

You saw me?

Yeah.

You seemed to like it.

I didn't think you were like that.

I understand. You're disappointed.

I'm sorry.

You all right here? It's not too hard?

So, how was your day?

You should have seen Philippe with the miners. Amazing.

A little scary too.

I wonder if he realises what he's doing.

Don't worry about him. He knows what he's doing.

Work is his whole life.

Hippolyte?

- Yes, madam? - Close the door.

Very good, madam.

This one's on me, guys.

Not you, traitor.

- Say that again. - You're a traitor. You're all traitors.

You just went along with them.

Let him go.

Even you gave in, Maheu.

You have a problem with that, Pichot?

No, tell us. What should we have done?

Let ourselves starve to death?

We have to work. Shit!

What am I to do? What am I to do?

This is exactly what they want: you fighting amongst yourselves.

Right now, Hennebeau must be counting up the money he's stolen from you.

Shut up.

There have always been bosses. That's how it is.

Souvarine is right.

If we were organised they wouldn't dare do this.

- Organised? - Yeah.

Are you mad? It's not allowed.

They could fire you just for thinking about it.

Isn't that right?

Tell him!

He's right.

Why would you want to change things?

Your eyesight has got too bad. Not to mention your lungs.

I can't let you carry on.

I only have to work one more year.

You should be pleased. It's over for you.

If you stop me working now I'll only get half my pension.

You're no longer fit. Do you want to do my job for me?

Next.

Without Zacharie and the old man's wages we can't manage.

We'll have to take in a lodger.

It's the only solution.

With board and lodging, we can make three francs a week.

You could ask Étienne.

It would be cheaper for him than Rasseneur's.

He owes it to you.

What about Catherine?

What about her?

It's not like we have a choice.

- Étienne's a good man. - Yeah.

We can trust him, can't we?

Come and help me here!

I heard the props creaking higher up this morning.

This new vein really doesn't seem safer.

If only they did the props correctly. They don't think.

They're just beasts without brains.

"Rodolphe felt there was something solemn and august in this redemption."

August?

August means majestic.

"One could see in Madame Georges's serious, resigned features

the evidence of long suffering and deep sorrow."

"She watched Marie with a mansuetude..."

Mansuetude means indulgence.

- You understand? - Yes.

"..with a mansuetude and an almost maternal compassion,

such was the girl's grace and gentleness."

Dinner time.

Sit here.

Hello.

Let me introduce our new lodger.

Is that a joke?

No. We had to replace Zacharie.

You could have asked me.

Catherine, you know how we live. Do you think we had a choice?

There are already five of us in the bedroom.

You could have found someone else, anyone.

Now you're being rude.

Apologise to Étienne.

It's up to me to apologise?

Absolutely.

And you say nothing as usual.

Don't make a fuss, please.

I'm sick of this. I'm going.

Where are you going?

- I don't want to cause problems. - No, sit down.

She'll get over it.

I'm sorry.

I thought you knew

and you didn't mind.

I'd never have said yes otherwise.

I thought we could be good friends

and move on.

But if my being here bothers you, I'll go.

Why would it bother me? Does it bother you?

No.

Fine, then.

Good night.

What's going on?

There's a new notice.

NEW PAYMENT METHOD PROPPING PAID SEPARATELY

Have I understood this?

- What is it? - Étienne.

From next month they'll pay for propping separately.

For safety reasons, they say.

So each wagon will be paid two centimes less.

No!

Two centimes!

- Two centimes is impossible. - What's this racket?

So this is the choice now?

Either we die in rockfalls or we starve?

We want to speak to Hennebeau in person!

You're talking nonsense! From the start you've been talking nonsense.

This must be withdrawn immediately.

Otherwise we down tools.

- A strike, Maheu? - We have no choice.

- Yes, a strike. - Wait a minute.

You know we can't win.

We paid a heavy price last time. Very heavy.

They're right. If you call a strike, in two weeks you'll all be starving

and you'll have to give in.

Don't you think we're already starving?

Can it be any worse?

We need to prepare for the fight.

We need to set up a solidarity fund.

- What? - What's that?

Some workers in Lille did it.

It's quite straightforward.

We carry on working and we make contributions according to our income.

- That way... - Hang on.

Speak in plain language.

Make contributions.

It means we carry on working, but we put money aside.

So we build up a sort of reserve.

- Each month? - Each month.

When we have enough, then we can scare the boss.

- That's good. - Yes, it's good! Scaring the boss!

Scaring the boss... Are you stupid or what?

This is bullshit. Just bullshit.

- And then there's you. You're new here. - That's true.

You don't know who we are or how we live.

Put in your years down the mine

and maybe then you'll be entitled to speak. OK?

I've slaved for ten years. I won't pay for people who don't want to work.

Aren't you sick of slaving? Don't you want change?

It's our job!

Do you like it? Are you happy with your life?

You know what, Chaval? If you're not interested, don't contribute.

- Right. - No one's making you.

But if you have a problem, you won't be able to rely on it.

Don't worry about that. I won't come crying to you.

No one said you would.

Yes, but what if they find out?

- It could get you fired. - I know.

- That's why it has to be our secret. - Our secret...

Don't laugh.

Think about it.

If the bosses don't know, if we keep it to ourselves,

then we can have a chance.

Then we can make a difference.

With a reserve, in a few months we can tip the scales.

Redress the power balance.

It's just an idea.

I'm not forcing anyone. Especially not you, Chaval.

Your idea's good.

Thank you.

I like your idea, Étienne.

We know about solidarity in the village.

Yes, we can do that.

Solidarity. Solidarity.

We women are voting in favour.

Go on.

Basically, you give money and then you join us.

- What do you say? - No.

No.

No.

- No. - Can we just come in and...

No. No, sorry.

- We don't have much. - It doesn't matter.

- The main thing is to give something. - A tiny amount will help us.

Thank you.

Thank you so much. You're making a heroic effort.

Soon we'll be strong enough to get justice.

Thank you, really. Trust us, it will work.

It's been more than two weeks, I have it on good authority.

He's started a solidarity fund.

This Lantier is unionising the whole village.

They're challenging the wage cut. They're preparing a strike, I'm sure.

On good authority? I don't imagine they're shouting it from the rooftops.

Well...

I have a female informant in the village.

A female informant.

It's forbidden for a pit manager to consort with mining women.

Go.

I told you there were rumblings.

We've gone too far.

It will suddenly blow up.

Did he say Lantier?

Yes, Étienne Lantier, but he's not the problem.

We keep beating them down more and more.

In the end there'll be a strike, for sure.

There will be consequences.

Don't let's exaggerate.

A long strike could put us in a difficult situation.

But a short strike. Think of the advantages.

It would allow us to clear out our stocks,

and to empty their famous fund before it fills up too much.

Right. What did you want to say?

I wanted to warn you.

There are rumours in the village.

They say your parents are prostituting you with the new guy.

- I don't believe it. - What is this rubbish?

Are you serious? That's all you've got to say to me?

Wait, Catherine, please.

Sorry.

I think I've understood.

Understood what?

I messed up.

I didn't realise...

I thought it was what you wanted too.

I didn't want to hurt you.

I swear.

I don't want to lose you.

I don't know how to do it.

I don't know.

Maybe you could teach me?

We could get together seriously this time.

A quiet life, just you and me together.

If you just give me a second chance.

Please.

Yes?

The director invited us.

Today? Are you sure?

Yes, we're sure. Dansaert told us 1pm.

There must be a mistake.

But wait. I'll see.

Apparently the pharmacist is in trouble. It's the talk of Marchiennes.

I heard that he's selling banned products.

- Is there a problem? - Not at all.

Just some miners who want to tell me about their demands.

On a Sunday?

Let them come and take our places. I'll have them served lunch.

Come in.

Mr Hennebeau will see you.

Who would like more of this excellent capon?

I would.

A little wine perhaps?

No, thank you, my friend. I'm fine.

Do you know Deneulin tried to borrow from us?

He has a big cash-flow problem.

We did tell him that his investments were madness.

This way, please.

Gentlemen.

- Is Lantier the one in the middle? - Yes.

So?

Maheu? Are you the spokesman?

Such a loyal miner.

That's why I was chosen, sir.

To tell you we can't manage.

With the bad stalls, the wage cuts, and propping being paid separately...

It's impossible.

We'd like it to work.

But it's too much. Too much all in one go.

Is that it? Have you finished?

Let me explain my work to you.

In less than three years,

the company's mines have lost 25% of their competitiveness in the market.

Do you know how much an American miner costs?

No. Of course not.

Some countries don't hesitate to lower production costs

by making labour costs variable. Yes!

The economy has become global. The stakes are terrifying.

What more do you want us to give you?

We give everything to the mine. Our lives, our bodies, our children.

And the mine gives you nothing in return?

Not enough.

But... I too would like to pay you more.

But I don't make the decisions.

I'm like you, a simple employee.

I can tell you that in Paris news of your cooperative, your solidarity fund,

has gone down very badly.

How does he know that?

You shouldn't bite the hand that feeds you.

But if you're like us, sir, and you have no power,

we want to talk to the people who really make the decisions.

It's time they heard about the inhuman conditions

in which we live and work every day.

- Inhuman conditions? - Yes, sir.

What exactly is inhuman, young man?

Being paid, having lodgings, access to medical care?

Your youth has carried you away.

You read a couple of political tracts and you're off.

You should let others speak.

- I know, sir... - Étienne, no.

I know, sir,

that we have nothing more to lose.

So, now it's simple.

Your measure on propping.

Either you withdraw it...

or we go on strike.

A strike!

I'm kind enough to receive you here in my own home

and you threaten me?

I'll never give in to blackmail. You hear me? Never!

If you want to go on strike, go ahead. In the meantime, leave.

- We'll... - At once!

Étienne!

Fine.

There.

Maheu was meant to speak and you had to open your mouth.

What were you thinking?

"We have nothing to lose"?

We have children, families!

Étienne was right to speak.

You saw him in his big house. They have everything, we have nothing.

The lad was right. Hennebeau was provoking us. We couldn't retreat.

The problem isn't wanting to strike or not wanting to.

The problem is that there isn't enough in the fund to last us.

Now that the company knows about the fund, they'll push you to the limit.

Right now, how long could you last in a stand-off? Ten days?

I know it's hard but you should get back in line and carry on working.

You make me laugh.

It's easy for you behind your bar.

But you're more worried about your trade than us.

Those are bourgeois attitudes, Rasseneur.

Watch out or you'll end up with the sellouts.

I'm a sellout?

I worked underground for 30 years.

When you've done that, you can say your piece.

We're comrades. We talk.

"We talk"?

So tell them how you came here.

And why you had to leave Lille.

Rasseneur.

It's not the first time this fine speaker has stirred things up.

He did the same thing in Lille.

And he left a man injured. A cop or someone like that.

Am I wrong?

Are you going to do the same here?

When things get too hot, will you bravely run away?

Étienne, explain yourself.

I made a mistake, yes.

But it was self-defence.

I was defending a comrade. We were attacked.

Anyway, it proves I'm not doing this for me.

I'm doing it for you. I can lose everything.

If they find me, they'll kill me.

This stops now. Étienne isn't the problem.

The problem is that we were betrayed.

Hennebeau knew about the solidarity fund.

- There was nothing we could do. - That's true.

That means there's an informant here.

Now there's an informant.

It wouldn't be you, would it?

From the start you've stayed out of it.

You refused to contribute.

Anything to say?

You don't see it, do you?

No.

You're being manipulated by this arsehole.

And you don't see it.

Maheu, tell them.

You know I'm not an informant.

After all this time, you've got to know me.

Haven't I always been loyal?

I could have left to get another job many times. I never did!

Bastard.

I believe Chaval.

He's not a grass.

Thanks, Catherine.

It seems I've done my time here.

You're not chucking me out, I'm leaving.

You go on strike if you want to.

Starve if you want to!

I'm not scared of working!

I'll go to Deneulin or anywhere else! And screw you!

Go on, get out!

Catherine?

You can come with me.

Now.

Traitor!

Shit, water's coming through.

Stop! Quiet!

These lousy props.

Fill as many wagons as possible and then we get out. Go!

You can go first.

I'll help you.

Go on.

Are you OK?

Where's Jeanlin?

Jeanlin! Jeanlin!

Zacharie, get the picks!

Étienne, get a pick!

Jeanlin!

What wrong with working to be in the warm?

To eat well?

To make the most of life?

What's wrong with wanting to succeed?

I've no regrets.

Stop!

I can hear someone.

He's here. He's here!

What happened?

What happened? Out of the way!

What happened?

What happened?

Jeanlin.

Jeanlin.

Jeanlin.

I'm here. It's going to be all right.

Look at me. The doctor's coming. He's coming.

- It's here. - Isn't this enough for you?

When are you going to listen to us?

When are you going to answer us?

This all due to your bad propping!

- That's not true! - Let this be a lesson to you.

I've told you to use more props for weeks and weeks, but no!

The result is a boy who's crushed and will never work again!

I hope you're proud of ourselves.

Are you stupid or what?

Yeah, stamp your feet! You bunch of scoundrels.

You can stop that and get back to work!

I'm here.

I'm here.

He must go to hospital.

His leg took the full force.

He'll survive but he'll be lame for the rest of his life.

Good luck.

In that case, we strike.

You can tell them all.

Now.

Strike!

Strike! Strike! Strike!

Strike! Strike! Strike!

Strike!