Original subtitles

If they attack one miner, they attack every miner!

No one goes down!

What's going on?

- We can't work, sir. - Why?

The company's heavies tried to kill Lantier, from Le Voreux.

I didn't know. That's appalling.

But I'm not the company.

Aren't you well-treated here?

We're united.

Are we united or not?

Yeah!

We can't work while our comrades are being beaten up.

I understand.

Your wives, your brothers are in Le Voreux. It's important.

But I'm an independent. Do you know how much I invested in this mine?

If you stop working, I'll be ruined and so will you.

So you won't be united miners,

you'll be united in unemployment. You'll be starving!

And so will I.

We won't budge.

We won't budge!

One, two! Push!

Go on, more, more.

The strike is over.

It's agreed. Work restarts today. Clear that!

Drop dead!

Careful, big boy. You don't know who you're dealing with.

- That's from Étienne, bastard. - Take this...

Be careful. You could hurt someone.

So, you kill our people?

You're signing your death warrant.

Death isn't what it used to be, Bressan.

What's up? You don't look pleased to see me.

We have a message for your masters.

- It's a general strike. - Yeah, general.

Nothing will stop us.

- Let him go, Bouteloup. - Wait.

You can't let him go after what he did to you.

And the money from the fund. Let's finish him.

No!

We're not like them.

Let him go.

- Get out of here! - Bastard!

Étienne...

I need to sit down.

Gentle virgin Mary, pray for us

Jesus, our Messiah, your gentle child

In his anger, he punishes our sins

But...

It's urgent.

Excuse me, Father. We'll continue later.

The strike is back on.

And it's a general strike. All the pits are closed, even Jean-Bart.

Lantier is back.

I'll telegraph to Lille and have the army sent in.

You'll do nothing.

Pardon?

You don't work for Jean-Bart, do you?

I don't think you understand.

If the strike spreads, it could affect every town in the region.

It's out of our control now.

I don't want to know how you broke the strike,

but you clearly failed miserably.

You should show some humility.

We can settle our scores later, but the main thing is to get work restarted.

On the contrary.

Jean-Bart being on strike is the only good news in this whole business.

Deneulin can't afford this strike.

- You want to force Deneulin to sell? - Exactly.

We'll let the strike take hold at Jean-Bart and then we'll negotiate.

Clearly I underestimated you.

You're not the only one.

Keep your eyes open and tell me when there's any change.

Uncle, I know you're acting for the good of the company,

but don't you think you're going too far? It'll end badly.

Not if everyone does what they should.

Your aunt is taking Cécile into town. I'd like you to go with them.

But I'd be more use here.

No. You'd be milling around here.

I need peace and quiet.

Very well, Uncle.

I don' know how you put so much flavour in your broth when you have nothing.

It's really good.

You hear that? At least he recognises my talents.

He's delirious.

You've got a nerve coming here.

Please. I came to see how he is.

Come in.

- Let me take that from you. - Thank you.

Sit down.

How are you feeling, comrade?

You scared us, you know.

I heard you were mainly scared that I'd left with the money.

I'm not proud of that, Étienne.

I apologise.

OK.

It's in the past. I know we're on the same side.

I've been thinking. I think we should report what Bressan did to you.

If I go to the police, they'll accuse me of a breach of the peace

and it'll be me they lock me up.

Just when Jean-Bart has gone on strike?

No. That's the last thing we should do.

It's time you woke up, Rasseneur.

It's a general strike now.

- All the mines in the region are shut. - This time Hennebeau will give in.

A general strike? Maheu, you know they won't allow that.

- We're allowed to strike. - Yes, under the law.

Given the slightest excuse they'll call in the army.

We could cut the telegraph line.

Yes, that's good.

It could work.

It could work.

Come in.

- You sent for me? - Yes, Antoine. Sit down.

You think you can buy me with a drink?

I was surprised to see you among the strikers.

You usually have a good head on your shoulders.

- It's not against you. - Not me?

Yeah.

It's more against yourself.

What's that?

It was... a promotion.

Your promotion to foreman.

You see here? It's your name.

"I, the undersigned Victor Deneulin,

owner operator,

appoint Antoine Chaval as foreman."

I just needed to sign it.

What shall I do now? Put it in the fire?

I don't know what to say.

You know, Antoine, when you're single, the mining village is your whole life.

But I've seen you with the Maheu girl and it's serious.

Soon you'll get married and then have kids.

She won't be able to work for a while.

And one wage with three or four mouths to feed...

It's better to be a foreman than unemployed, isn't it?

- I can't decide for the others. - But you can talk to them.

You have authority. That's why I want you as foreman.

Tell them that in two months I'll give them five centimes extra per wagon.

They can't refuse.

What a nice surprise to have you with us, Paul.

Yes, I'll be your sort of chaperone.

I didn't know you liked lace and frills.

There are still lots of things you don't know about me.

That's good to know.

Henri, faster!

- What did he want? - A return to work. I said yes.

You're kidding.

I've got a wage increase for everyone.

Five centimes extra in two months.

And he's making me foreman too.

- Are you mad? - What?

I can't ignore a chance like this.

Have you thought about the people in Le Voreux?

What about my parents? They need us to make the company give in.

I don't care about the people in Le Voreux.

They'd kill to have what I've got us.

- You're hurting me. - I did it for us.

For you.

Don't give up on me now.

Don't give up on me.

Guys! Gather round.

There's smoke! Smoke from Jean-Bart!

Oh, the bastards.

They can't have done that.

They shouldn't have.

- Come on. - Let's go.

No, it's out of the question. You can't see the dress before the ceremony.

He can't stay outside like a lost soul.

It doesn't matter. I'll go for a drive.

I'll meet you in an hour?

It's plenty of time.

Let's say two.

Jean-Bart has restarted. The bastards didn't keep their word.

- Are you sure? - Yeah.

Our guys have gone to give them a hiding.

It'll get nasty.

What are you doing? You can barely stand.

What are you doing?

- I'm going there. - We'll come too.

Here.

Are you all right?

Go home!

Comrades! Comrades!

Leave him!

Leave him! Leave him!

Comrades, stop!

Leave him!

Comrades, stop!

- Stop! - Stop!

Comrades!

Calm down!

Comrades! Bouteloup, leave him!

- Leave him. - These bastards betrayed us!

Stop!

- Comrades! - Stop!

- Leave him alone! - Étienne!

Étienne! Deneulin is here!

Out of my way!

- Are you Lantier? - Let him go.

Are you proud of yourself?

Your thugs have sabotaged the ventilation and the lift.

They won't even let me sound the alarm.

- What have you done, Levaque? - They're traitors!

It'll be 50 degrees at the face soon. People will die and it's your fault.

- Is Catherine Maheu down there? - They all are.

Levaque, follow me. Out of the way!

Sound the alarm! Sound the alarm!

Souvarine, are you mad? Sound the alarm now!

Chaval betrayed us! He deserves to die!

My daughter's down there. Must she die?

She chose her side.

Souvarine, we must warn them. We're not murderers.

Go on, Maheu!

Catherine!

You'll be all right.

Breathe.

Breathe.

You must get up. Come on.

Get up. Go!

Come on.

The lift cables have been cut.

There's no ventilation. The ladders!

Antoine!

Catherine!

Antoine!

I'm not leaving you.

Out of the way.

We have to climb!

You hear me?

Catherine. Come on.

I can't, Antoine! I can't feel my hand.

You have to do it. There's no choice. Out of the way.

Go on. Look in front of you and don't stop. Go!

The waist must be tight.

There. It's better like that, isn't it?

No, it isn't. It looks like a barrel.

You're exaggerating.

A bit less brioche until the wedding and you'll be fine.

I meant the dress.

Oh, sorry.

These corsets are from another age.

Paul didn't choose you for your tact, did he?.

What makes you think he chose me and not the opposite?

Well done. Carry on.

Go on.

Go on, Catherine. Carry on.

We're nearly there.

Go on. Carry on.

Don't look down. Go on!

Carry on. Don't stop.

Don't stop! Catherine!

Go on! Catherine!

Prepare the harnesses and all the ropes they have!

Maheu, don't go down, it's too dangerous. We don't help traitors.

I don't care about your revolution. It's my daughter.

- Leave him, Maheu. - Dad.

- I'll go down. - No, you stay here.

More ropes!

Here.

Are there more?

Rose?

- Sir? - Come in, come in.

- Have you come from the village? - Yes, sir.

But for the vol-au-vents the baker will call...

Was everything normal?

I mean... you noticed nothing unusual?

No, everything was normal. Why?

Nothing.

Hippolyte, have you seen Bressan?

No, he's in town, I think.

What are you hiding?

Pardon?

Yes, I need to put them away.

Madam must have...

- How long? - I don't understand, sir.

How long have my wife and my nephew...

Take your belongings. I don't want you here.

- But... - Leave this house!

You're fired.

You can fire us all. It won't change anything.

Everyone knows.

Filthy traitor.

Here are the traitors.

Maheu.

Leave her, leave her.

Catherine...

Water.

Water!

Here.

We have a better way for him.

This is what we do to traitors.

- No, stop! - Stay here.

- Stop. - Stay here.

Stay here.

Let go of me!

Stop!

Stop! Let him go! Let him go!

Étienne! Please, do something!

Please, Étienne. Étienne! He just saved my life!

Please!

Let him go!

Let him go, I said!

He's had enough.

He gave us the run-around!

We are miners. We do what's right.

As for you, traitor, if we see you in Montsou again,

I won't be able to do anything for you.

Thank you.

Gather everyone together.

The telegraph line to Montsou has been cut.

Cut? How?

At the post office they think a pole came down.

What's bothering you?

We passed some miners with an axe earlier.

- We'll go home. - But...

Now.

Thank you.

Miners of Jean-Bart.

You obtained in one day

what we haven't got in three months.

But if Deneulin can give you a raise like that,

it's thanks to the general strike.

It's because all the other pits in the region are closed

and the price of coal is going to rise.

Those five centimes that you gained,

you didn't get them from Deneulin,

you got them from the struggling miners.

Your children,

your brothers,

your mothers.

- We didn't know. - Who spoke?

We didn't know all that.

We're told not to go down, we don't. We're told to go down, we do.

We're miners, not schoolteachers.

It's true you didn't know.

But now you do know.

If one miner gains on one side, another miner loses on the other side.

The only solution to make the bosses respect us

is unity among miners.

So, now you know.

You have the choice.

Either you are with us,

or you're with the bosses.

But there's nothing in between.

Those who are in favour of joining the fight,

raise your hands.

Socialist democracy is beautiful.

I've just saved their lives.

Comrades!

Pass the word to all the mining villages in the region.

Tell them to join us in Montsou.

We'll see if Hennebeau still refuses to listen to us.

Everyone to Montsou!

What are you looking at?

Careful! Stay back!

My God.

What's going on?

Oh, it's you, Mr Négrel! Sorry, ladies and gent, you have to get out.

What's going on? What do you mean?

It's a general strike.

We've closed everything.

What are you doing? Stop!

There are ladies on board.

It's not against you, Mr Négrel. They must get out too.

Unless you want to replace the horse.

I know them. They won't hurt us.

- Come on. - Let's get out.

A great lord, Mr Négrel.

Come on.

Come on!

- Let go of us. - It's my bag. Let go of my bag.

What have we got here?

Oh, it's beautiful.

Whose is it?

- Answer me! Whose is it? - It's mine.

It's beautifully made. How much did it cost?

20 francs?

30?

No, surely not 50.

I'm getting married. It's not every day.

Listen, La Mouquette, we know each other well. Huh?

I think we even like each other.

You never defended us when we were being beaten by your heavies.

When I look at you now, like this,

well-dressed, clean...

I'm disgusted.

While we...

Nothing ever changes for us.

Whether we die down the mine or up here,

as long as you can live your nice comfortable life undisturbed...

- Listen... - No!

Not any more!

You know what I ate this morning while you were shopping?

A leather belt!

Have you tried it, Négrel?

Please...

At least let the ladies leave.

You hear that, Dad? A real knight in shining armour.

Don't worry, Négrel. We're just going to share a meal, like good friends.

- Open your mouth. - Go on.

- Open your mouth. - Open it!

Go on.

I said open your mouth.

Now chew.

Chew. Chew it, Négrel.

- Go on, chew it. - Now the ladies.

No, leave her.

- Chew it. - Leave her.

- I want to see you chew. - Open your mouth. There.

- Chew. - There.

Chew.

I said chew it.

Open up! There!

Chew.

Chew.

Chew! Chew! Chew!

We're going home.

Antoine, we can't go home.

If they see you, they'll lynch you.

I said we're going home.

Antoine.

Étienne wasn't joking.

Étienne? Do you take your orders from him now?

What?

Are you making fun of me? I've always followed you.

Even when I knew it would end badly.

But not now. It's too dangerous.

When I say we're going home, we're going home!

Is that clear?

Is that clear? Go on.

Move!

What have I done wrong?

Pardon?

Tell me.

Haven't I done everything

for God to grant me a little of his succour,

of his aid,

at least once?

Of course.

Then, why? Why?

Every day I've prayed. I've turned the other cheek.

I've trusted in him, and this is my reward?

You mustn't give in to anger.

If God has inflicted this trial upon you,

it's because he has faith in you.

We can do no good in this world if we refuse to bear our cross.

Get a grip on yourself.

Being a Christian means finding the inner strength to persevere.

Is Hennebeau here?

I can't let you in.

- He's under my protection. - It's all right, Joire.

- I looked everywhere for you. - Well, you found me.

Sit down.

You don't understand.

Hundreds of miners from across the region are on their way.

We are not in control. We must call in the army and take shelter.

Only a fool leaves the game without his winnings.

What?

It's all a game, business.

They're not coming here for a fight, but to negotiate.

Their currency is fear.

Ours is money.

This is insane. Hennebeau, you're not in your right mind.

On the contrary. I've never felt as lucid.

Keep calm and you'll see.

It will all be fine.

Prepare the weapons. We'll stand guard.

Fetch the police from Marchiennes. Tell them to be quick.

To Maigrat's shop!

Comrades! We mustn't do this!

Wait! Not now!

Comrades!

Étienne, it's Maigrat's shop. What do we care?

- Bouteloup. - After all the girls he's abused.

- The prices when we were starving. - Bouteloup!

We can't allow looting. If there's any violence we'll be made to pay.

"Savages." That's what they'll say in the papers.

People are hungry, Étienne. You can't ask that of them.

Let's hope the cockroach has had the sense to run away.

Étienne!

Tell him what you told me.

I saw Hennebeau. He's not at his house, he's in the church.

Hennebeau's in the church!

Everyone to the church!

To the church!

Maheu, help me.

Help me up.

Quiet, everyone! Listen to Étienne!

Comrades!

We are here to demand justice from the company.

Justice!

But I said justice, not revenge.

We mustn't soil our movement with acts of violence.

We must remain dignified and organised.

I will go into this church

and we will finally get justice for all of us!

Justice!

We can't let you go inside alone.

Forget Bressan. Nothing will happen in the church.

Our biggest problem is the crowd.

There must be no violence. It's essential. Understand?

I'll come with you.

I'm counting on you.

Lantier!

You're right. I'll talk to him.

He'll listen to me. You can't come out without an agreement.

- Thank you. - I'm not doing it for you.

I fought in Crimea. I know what starving people can do.

- What? - I must warn my parents.

Your parents are fine. It's my husband they're after.

They attacked us.

Paul, tell her her parents are fine.

I don't take orders from Paul. I'm going to warn my parents.

I can take Cécile home and then I'll come with you.

Not you as well. Bressan and his men are at our house.

It's much safer. Think!

She's worried about her parents.

And I'm worried about my husband.

Your uncle.

But... she's going to be my wife.

Very well.

I'll go alone.

- Philippe. - Victor, are you all right?

I'm fine. But the mine...

Not now. We'll talk about it later.

I see you still have your sense of hospitality.

You allow this in your church?

Gentlemen, this is a peaceful negotiation, not a hostage situation.

It's a thin line.

Philippe, you must negotiate.

No one wants a bloodbath, especially not Lantier, I'm certain.

- He destroyed your mine. - No, not him.

Without his intervention, my men would all have died.

Do you remember what you said when I asked you for help?

Well, you were right.

It's all just a game.

It's the Hennebeau woman!

That bitch has got a nerve!

Go back home, bitch!

Get out of here!

Stand aside!

- What are you doing here? - I'm going home.

My place is beside my husband.

- We'll take you to him in the church. - In the church?

- Mr Hennebeau, it's time to negotiate. - It's not up to you.

- You can't avoid your responsibilities. - Philippe?

My God, I was so scared.

Where's Paul?

At La Piolaine with Cécile.

He left you alone?

She was in a panic.

We were attacked by a mob.

I don't want to know.

You're filthy.

You stink.

Gentlemen!

Let's do this.

There's coffee.

Sugar.

Here.

Yes, a cabbage.

Biscuits!

Following the company's brutal and illegal methods,

the miners of Montsou have declared an indefinite general strike.

Not a single lump of coal will be produced

until the bosses have agreed to our demands.

We want:

a wage increase of five centimes per wagon,

and the immediate withdrawal of the condition on propping.

Here, here.

Maigrat is here!

He's in the store.

Get him!

Bastard! There you are!

You will get nothing.

What?

After your stunt this morning, the company is going to buy Jean-Bart

and everything will be resolved.

Your threats are useless. You'll get nothing.

- Philippe, it's madness. - Mr Hennebeau.

I don't think you understand the situation.

There are hundreds of miners outside and their blood is up.

We don't have time for your power games now.

What is your answer?

What is your answer?

- This swine was hiding in the store. - He's here!

What's the matter, you bastard? Don't you want to play today?

- This is for the girls you've abused. - I beg you...

Here, filthy pig!

And this is for my niece that you got pregnant.

She's a whore in Lille now.

- Mercy... - Mercy?

Mercy...

Mercy? Mercy?

Mercy...

Yeah!

Death to rapists!

Down with profiteers!

It's going badly out there.

Five centimes per wagon.

Be reasonable, sir. No one wants a massacre.

If I go outside and tell my men that you refuse,

I won't be able to protect you.

The door is there, Lantier.

Can't you hear them?

Your wife, you! You're all going to die!

Étienne, leave it.

He won't change his mind.

Do you have a weapon for me?

Wait! Wait! It's Étienne!

Stand back! Move back!

Stand aside. Stand back.

- Are you all right? - Yes.

So, what did he say?

Tell us, Étienne.

Tell us.

They won't give us anything.

That's what he said.

They're shitting all over us!

Death to the bosses!

By the way, you left these in Paul's bed.

They're here.

Come on!