In the 1890s, Father Adolf Daens goes to Aalst, a textile town where child labor is rife, pay and working conditions are horrible, the poor have no vote, and the Catholic church backs the petite bourgeoisie in oppressing workers. He writes a few columns for the Catholic paper, and soon workers are listening and the powerful are in an uproar. He's expelled from the Catholic party, so he starts the Christian Democrats and is elected to Parliament. After Rome disciplines him, he must choose between two callings, as priest and as champion of workers. In subplots, a courageous young woman falls in love with a socialist and survives a shop foreman's rape; children die; prelates play billiards.
Cast
Jan Decleir
Adolf Daens
Gérard Desarthe
Charles Woeste
Antje De Boeck
Nette Scholliers
Michaël Pas
Jan De Meeter
Karel Baetens
Jefke
Julien Schoenaerts
Bisschop Stillemans
Wim Meuwissen
Pieter Daens
Brit Alen
Louise Daens
Johan Leysen
Schmitt
Linda van Dyck
Elizabeth Borremans
Idwig Stephane
Eugene Borremans
Jappe Claes
Ponnet
Brenda Bertin
Marie
Alex Wilequet
Monsignor Goossens
Fred Van Kuyk
Burgemeester Van Wambeke
Herbert Flack
Van Langenhove (Liberaal)
Rik Hancké
Nuncio
Matthias Schoenaerts
Wannes Scholliers
Anna Grażyna Suchocka
Julia
Iwona Hofman
Clarice
Julia Banaszkiewicz
Nini
Brunon Bukowski
Commission Member
Andrzej Głoskowski
Commission Member
Sławomir Maciejewski
Gendarmerie Officer
Leon Niemczyk
Commission Member
Tadeusz Teodorczyk
Commission Member
Ludwik Benoit
Man beside Nini's Corpse
Genowefa Korska
Lisette
Mirosław Jękot
Gang Member
Dariusz Kowalski
Gang Member
Jacek Łuczak
Gang Member
Tadeusz Falana
Gang Member
Jacek Sut
Gang Member
Barbara Połomska
Woman giving out Soup
Wiesława Grochowska
Woman giving out Soup
Crew
Stijn Coninx
Director, Writer
François Chevallier
Writer
Addy Weijers
Writer
Fernand Auwera
Scenario Writer
Louis Paul Boon
Novel
Ludo Troch
Editor
Walther van den Ende
Director of Photography
Patrice Martineau
First Assistant Director
Philippe Van Damme
Assistant Director
Fons Feyaerts
Assistant Director
Johan Dirckx
Assistant Director
Guy Goossens
Assistant Director
Els Rastelli
Assistant Director
Hans Pos
Producer
Jean-Luc Ormières
Producer
Dirk Impens
Producer
Dave Schram
Producer
Maria Peters
Producer
Frank Jansen
Co-Producer
Daphni Gadellaa
Producer's Assistant
Allan Starski
Production Design
Hubert Pouille
Production Design
Yves Vandermeeren
Camera Operator
Glynn Speeckaert
Assistant Camera
Didier Frateur
First Assistant Camera
Job Gosschalk
Casting
Kris Vinck
Casting
Yan Tax
Costume Design
Kristin Van Passel
Wardrobe Assistant
Dick Naastepad
Hairstylist
Winnie Gallis
Makeup Artist
Eric DeVos
Sound Editor
Philippe Ravoet
Sound Editor
Philippe Baudhuin
Sound Re-Recording Mixer
Ewin Ryckaert
Sound Assistant
Ann Van Aken
Sound Assistant
Benoît Biral
Sound Recordist
Henri Morelle
Sound Engineer
Christian Monheim
Boom Operator
Philippe van Leer
Foley Artist
Miroslaw Marchwinski
Special Effects
Dirk Brossé
Music
Guy Cantraine
Set Dresser
Dirk van Rampelbergh
Electrician
Chris Hacken
Best Boy Electric
Jo van Hende
Assistant Location Manager
Eddy Stevesyns
Assistant Location Manager
Bogdan Michalak
Stunt Coordinator
Robert Brzeziński
Stunt Coordinator
Benoît Theunissen
Key Grip
Koen Firlefijn
Grip
Ryszard Chutkowski
Production Manager
Guy De Lombaert
Production Manager
Jerzy Piaseczny
Unit Production Manager
Ewa Skoczkowska
Art Direction
