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Germinal Reviews

1993

70
from 974 members

Set in 19th Century France, the story follows jobless Etienne Lantier who leaves his home in search of work and arrives in the mining town of Montsou where the workers are poorly paid while the ruthless mine bosses get richer. Disturbed by what he sees, Lantier starts to organise the miners into fighting for justice... French .. Read more

Starring	Gerard Depardieu, Miou-Miou, Renaud, Jean Carmet
Director	Claude Berri
Genres	World Cinema

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Critic's review of Germinal
View all critics' reviews (2)
- Detailed and sweeping epic evocation of Zola's novel, an impassioned portrait of exploitation and a plea for a more just society that retains much of the force of the original.
- 35337
- - Halliwell's Film Guide
  - 02 Mar 2006 at 15:44
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Most helpful member's review of Germinal
View all members' reviews (15)
- - 12
  - 1
  Makes you pleased to be alive today
  
  This is a film that makes you think. The set is very realistic and set the scene for the tragedy that slowly unfolded. There was a touching scene where ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 436919
- [Highly rated reviewer]
  - a customer
  - Benenden Kent
  - 05 May 2007 at 20:03
Most recent members' reviews of Germinal
View all members' reviews (15)
- - 0
  - 0
  Merci Monsieur Berri !
  
  A very good film from Claude Berri but not as good as his previous ones like Tchao Pantin , Jean de Florette and/or Manon des sources . It shows the hard life ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 1083561
- - doughnutboy
  - 7 reviews
  - Blackpool
  - 19 Jan 2012 at 22:14
- - 0
  - 0
  Claude Berri masterpiece
  
  A classic French film made by master movie-maker Claude Berri.
  
  The film depicts the struggle of French coal miners during the late 19th century.read more »
  
  Report this review
- 981929
- - MikeLaughton
  - 106 reviews
  - Oakham,England
  - 13 Apr 2011 at 14:27
- - 0
  - 0
  Flawed but still powerful
  
  This fim is based on Emile Zola's 1885 novel about the horrendous living and working conditions of miners in Northern France. However while the novel ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 953527
- - Minopater
  - 251 reviews
  - Wallington
  - 14 Jan 2011 at 12:15
- - 0
  - 0
  A remake
  
  Not having seen the 1913 'original', and hoping for a re-view of the 1963 version, this is (obviously) a Gerard Depardieu vehicle. It's a touch not... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 744379
- - a customer
  - Stone
  - 17 Apr 2009 at 11:04
- - 0
  - 0
  Germinal
  
  Gripping from beginning to end
  
  Report this review
- 708778
- - a customer
  - Nottingham
  - 14 Feb 2009 at 20:37
- - 0
  - 0
  Germinal
  
  THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS | Show review anywayHide
  
  I've read the book and the film sticks closely to the rubric,using chunks of the text, so it is a wordy film of an ideological nature.However If you are ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 691720
- - a customer
  - Thetford
  - 20 Jan 2009 at 16:20
- - 0
  - 0
  Germinal
  
  Excellent - loved it! Will definitely watch it again : -)) no American 'fast-fetched' stuff, quite real and interesting to watch.
  
  Report this review
- 652743
- - a customer
  - High Wycombe
  - 01 Nov 2008 at 10:55
- - 0
  - 0
  bleak!
  
  you just know this won't have a happy ending but a good movie about a hard mining community
  
  Report this review
- 633636
- - kartum
  - 206 reviews
  - west lothian
  - 23 Sep 2008 at 13:13
- - 0
  - 0
  wortthy but good
  
  Really enjoyed this and learnt a lot about the french mines and the conditions of the workers , not a Saturday night film to cuddle up to though
  
  Report this review
- 627317
- - mikesdad
  - 13 reviews
  - Reading
  - 10 Sep 2008 at 17:40
- - 0
  - 0
  Bonne Filme!
  
  I really enjoyed this film... Bit slow to begin with and was ready to give up but got increasingly better quite quickly. The scenes in mines were scary and ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 608329
- - a customer
  - Bonnie Scotland
  - 04 Aug 2008 at 19:25
View all members' reviews (15)

- - 12
  - 1
  Makes you pleased to be alive today
  
  This is a film that makes you think. The set is very realistic and set the scene for the tragedy that slowly unfolded. There was a touching scene where ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 436919
- [Highly rated reviewer]
  - a customer
  - Benenden Kent
  - 05 May 2007 at 20:03
- - 5
  - 0
  Delighted to trace this film
  
  Watched this on the TV late one night. Was able to trace it again and enjoyed it yet again. Think you need to be a Depardieu fan though. Need a box of tissues
  
  Report this review
- 385043
- - a customer
  - Bucks
  - 15 Nov 2006 at 09:16
- - 4
  - 0
  Worthy, tedious, but ok to watch
  
  A bit slow, a bit pantomimey at times. Worthy topic perhaps, although there is so much pc nonsense around these days that you cannot trust films in general ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 575650
- - a customer
  - Birmingham
  - 13 Jun 2008 at 11:06
- - 2
  - 0
  very worthy but half hour too long
  
  THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS | Show review anywayHide
  
  This is a very well acted/ filmed film set in France pre Unions showing the atrocious way mining people (incl women and children) were treated by mine owners. ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 571689
- - majortom2001
  - 67 reviews
  - Worthing, UK
  - 02 Jun 2008 at 21:06
- - 0
  - 0
  Bonne Filme!
  
  I really enjoyed this film... Bit slow to begin with and was ready to give up but got increasingly better quite quickly. The scenes in mines were scary and ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 608329
- - a customer
  - Bonnie Scotland
  - 04 Aug 2008 at 19:25
- - 0
  - 0
  wortthy but good
  
  Really enjoyed this and learnt a lot about the french mines and the conditions of the workers , not a Saturday night film to cuddle up to though
  
  Report this review
- 627317
- - mikesdad
  - 13 reviews
  - Reading
  - 10 Sep 2008 at 17:40
- - 0
  - 0
  bleak!
  
  you just know this won't have a happy ending but a good movie about a hard mining community
  
  Report this review
- 633636
- - kartum
  - 206 reviews
  - west lothian
  - 23 Sep 2008 at 13:13
- - 0
  - 0
  Germinal
  
  Excellent - loved it! Will definitely watch it again : -)) no American 'fast-fetched' stuff, quite real and interesting to watch.
  
  Report this review
- 652743
- - a customer
  - High Wycombe
  - 01 Nov 2008 at 10:55
- - 0
  - 0
  Germinal
  
  THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS | Show review anywayHide
  
  I've read the book and the film sticks closely to the rubric,using chunks of the text, so it is a wordy film of an ideological nature.However If you are ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 691720
- - a customer
  - Thetford
  - 20 Jan 2009 at 16:20
- - 0
  - 0
  Germinal
  
  Gripping from beginning to end
  
  Report this review
- 708778
- - a customer
  - Nottingham
  - 14 Feb 2009 at 20:37

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Critics' reviews
- Detailed and sweeping epic evocation of Zola's novel, an impassioned portrait of exploitation and a plea for a more just society that retains much of the force of the original.
- 35337
- - Halliwell's Film Guide
  - 02 Mar 2006 at 15:44
- This adaptation of Zola's novel looks superb, as befits the most expensive French film to date. From the opening with... read more on Time Out
- 48748
- - Time Out
  - 04 Nov 2008 at 00:19

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Buy from Amazon.co.uk

- - Buy
- Germinal
  
  Set in 19th Century France, the story follows jobless Etienne Lantier who leaves his home in search of work and arrives in the mining town of Montsou where the workers are poorly paid while the ruthless mine bosses get richer. Disturbed by what he sees, Lantier starts to organise the miners into ...