Germinal (1993): Dir: Claude Berri / Cast: Renaud, Gerard Depardieu, Judith Henry, Jean-Roger Milo, Jean Carmet: Effective look at mining conditions in the early century with Renaud arriving in town looking for work. He is befriended by Gerard Depardieu who is married and has several children. His daughter quickly catches the attention of Renaud but she is raped by another miner and forced to live with him. Realistically told but its outcome is predictable. Fine directing by Claude Berri with Renaud terrific as the underdog struggling in the mines. Berri is a famed French director who is fortunately backed with superb casting. Depardieu easily outshines everyone with a scene stealing performance that often uplifts the tone within a dark and gloomy atmosphere that they find themselves struggling with. He plays a loving and caring husband and father yet he easily steals scenes with the odd humour as well. Judith Henry is memorable as his daughter who is the victim of rape and struggles to escape the inner shame. Jean- Roger Milo is also featured among the stellar cast. Flawed with familiarity, as in its budget takes away from it. Independent film can and have often gotten around this but with Germinal it just seems like something is lacking. It counters this by portraying mining conditions with great realism as well as the struggle to survive and maintain unity. Score: 7 / 10
Review of Germinal
